Earning the Worthy Life

Semi-Good Day

2010-07-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am long some $TQNT from 6.74. It was a bad entry. I didn't write about it. But I tweeted here. I am trying to tweet more of this stuff. Sorry to those of my friends who are confused as to what is going on. But it gets me more followers, than my witty remarks, much to my chagrin. And that's really why we're all here. Not really.

It's held up way today in a choppy market. I'm happy about it. I took a minor hit on CIEN and still have a minor position. I just want broad semi-conductor exposure. That's why I diversified a little.

I think we end up. But I say all kinds of things. You should not listen to it.

Head in the Clouds

2010-07-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

I like RAX here. It's at the bottom of it's range. It definitely could get boot stomped. But then I'll buy it again at 12. I like it here and down to 12, so long as the fundamentals don't change.

The writing is on the wall, in terms of cloud-computing taking over the world. While I will only dedicate a standard maximum position size of 10% to RAX, I will use up to 20% of my portfolio to exploit cloud computing (SaaS, IaaS) trends and 10% for 4G flays, as per monsieur Le Fly.

I'm not buying anything here, as I already have an 80% position in and around these levels. I will only add if it goes lower. If I were more risk-averse or believed any less in my thesis I would hold a tight stop in case it got beat the hell down at this support.

I'm not recommending that you buy RAX

Metldeezy

2010-07-16T07:59:00.001-07:00

I sold out of 3/4 of my CIEN position for a 1.5% loss. Negligible. It just ran hard though and could sell off further should weakness persist.

I think there is going to be a correction and then blammo upwards for August.

I also bought 1/2 a position of VXX

Boredom

2010-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's a dangerous thing.

My plan is to accumulate on weakness and that's what I need to do. But then I get bored.

Yesterday I bought a 1/4 position of FAS at the closing bell. It was a gamble on the JPM earnings play, which they destroyed by the way. But it was dumb. I didn't really think about it. I did it because I was bored and undisciplined.

I managed to get out for a small gain that did little more than cover my fees. I was lucky though. The market was obviously flooded with sell orders on the open. I could have got had, badly.

Stick to the plan. Accumulate on weakness.

Add on Weakness

2010-07-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

As per my thesis, it's time to buy some shit.

I have an incredibly large cash positions for such shopping opportunities.

Let's be honest for a second, it's RATHER unlikely that the new iPhone will be recalled. The solution of a free case that fixes the signal to everyone is a good play. People will probably buy like 4 cases over the life of their iPhone. Shit, this will probably improve margins. Steve Jobs is one hell of a crafty bastard, after all.

I gotta love AAPL at this price. Target of $330.

Hat tip to @vcutrader for spurring me on a little in this nibble.

NOTE: The bulk of my AAPL position was purchased in and around $187

The Shake-Out.

2010-07-13T12:28:00.001-07:00

Here is where I got hosed.

Actually, because of my phenomenal patience, I managed to cover my bases. I will sell this small $SPY position at the open for a tidy, albeit modest profit.

I'm testing this new thing, where I buy when the number gets yellow, as it does in the teens. I bought at 13.5. Assuming, as per the earlier yellow numbers, that it would bounce.

It didn't bounce.

I think there was a tell, that this was a shake-out. That this was not a real bottom. The fact that it was in the middle of our trading range should have been a tell. There was another one too, to do with the next day's score. But I was excited to test out something new so I jumped eagerly at any apparent opportunity.

Luckily, I didn't jump in too deep. I was only testing an idea, after all.

And I was sure to test again when the number got back into the teens, which did prove to be a short-term bottom.

Now I've got a few more days of ammo for my indicator. I'm going to try and work it in with some other things in order to produce a reliable buy signal. 3 out of 4 ain't terrible but I think I can do better. I just need to keep accumulating data. When I start a hedge-fund, I'll let you know (LOL).

On that note, I hate the use of LOLs and such. On another note, I obviously have no clue what I'm doing vis-a-vis the stock market, so don't take this shit for real. Do your due diligence, d'uh.

I'm still going to accumulate stocks I like, with solid fundamentals on weakness. I am just using some of my bountiful cash position to play these swings up and down the trading range.

Going Shopping

2010-07-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

There is a karmic storm a-brew. Somehow, the "Amnesty International Crowd" has seemingly transferred the stoning of an allegedly guilty Iranian woman to the RAX stock price.

I still like this bad boy. Cloud Computing is the future. I will buy this piece of trash down to 12. For now, I will nibble accordingly.

PEEP THIS hot track. The 1:30 de-hooding is boss.

UPDATE: July 13 - RAX is up almost 5% this morning. Yesterday's buy was well-timed I believe, indeed.

Yingli Solar (YGE)

2010-07-11T08:05:00.001-07:00

Finding this stock has been the best part of my world cup experience so far. Opportunity is everywhere, for those who pay attention.

YGE is gobbling up the solar market in California. The company also boasts robust fundamentals. I took a starter position at 10.97 and the stock is up 14% in the three days since.

I'm holding this bad boy for the longer term though, and happy to accumulate in the 10.50-8.50 range. I think it will eventually break into a higher range.

I also have a further small exposure to solar in the shape of a nascent FSLR position.

Strategic Planning.

2010-07-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

As I said, I've been watching copious amounts of Create Capital. If you're into learning about the stock market, I've found in my own internet-based experience that videos go a long way. Don't get me wrong, reading and shit is important. But it's a nice supplementary tool.

Check out www.tickerville.com for timely analysis a few times a week.

I'm playing with an indicator of my own:

It's not perfect, as evidenced by the 13.5 shake-out. My strategy for playing this uncertain market is to accumulate stocks with strong fundamentals on weakness. I basically articulated that yesterday when I was talking about XOM. With a large cash position I will supplement my winship by playing the indices using a combination of indicators, including of course the aforementioned.

Since it's not really MY indicator, per se, I won't tell you what it is, at this point. All thanks and praise to the PPT

Other names that I will "get at" are YGE, RAX, VOD, NLX, NZT, FSLR, TEVA, OII. But only when they are "Petrzalka cheap."

I like technology and I'm willing to entertain eco-plays if the fundamentals are strong. There is probably a lot of money in that shit if people can pull it off profitably. Which remains to be seen in only a short matter of time, in my opinion.

The key to executing the above is to avoid getting caught up in the day to day. I'll nibble on positions as they dip into the lower end of their trading range. I'm also doing it in conjunction with about 437 other indicators including how many mosquito bites I might have gotten the night prior. Actually, you can make that a constant of zero. After I installed a complex system of fans nary a bug could stay airborne in the perpetual twister.

I'll keep you posted on how this goes...

Trading Thoughts

2010-07-09T11:21:00.001-07:00

I have refrained from doing much of this, but it's what is taking up my time these days. I've been studying the art of active money management pretty intensely these last few weeks. Ergo, I will write about it. I always write about what I'm doing.

For now, I'll say if you are at all interested in the markets, at all, the best use of time you can get is heading over to www.createcapital.com every weekday morning at 9am. It's WELL worth it, should you have ANY interest in such things.

I was a net seller today, taking profit on the recent runs. I'll come back to this. I want to buy XOM on a pull-back because I think it looks cheap. I mean, take a look at it. And I mean, sorry eco-friends, but we're not getting off the oil-drip any time soon. From what I can tell this has sound fundamentals. If the Gulf tragedy has taught me anything, it's that there is a shit-ton of oil under the sea. These guys will be making money for awhile.

It's Reality, Bro

2010-07-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading a great book, The Big Short, by Michael Lewis. I read a lot of non-fiction. I enjoy it.

This particular piece of prose was about the collapse of the US sub-prime housing market.

One of the take home themes was something that has emerged in my life before, in other books and on more personal levels. In this tale of Wall Street mishap, it goes to show that the whole world, minus a handful of astute individuals, can be completely oblivious to tragedy and even go as far as to delude themselves into thinking that everything is great. But if the numbers underneath don’t support your belief, it’s only a matter of time until your house of cards comes tumbling down.

Embrace your reality, no matter how ugly.

Numbers don’t lie. And they don’t care if you like it or not.

BACK IN ACTION

2010-06-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Forgive the hiatus. I failed to blog much at all when I was at home. I was too busy, having fun and enjoying life in the industrialized world.

It's also summer. Blogging is easier when I'm confined by the cold and overwhelming presence of winter. I'll try to get back into the swing of things.

Later B'lava

2010-05-26T00:40:00.000-07:00

"The best day in Bratislava is the one before you leave it." - Sarp Kayalar.

I'm stoked to be going to Toronto tomorrow.

Break it Down.

2010-05-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

I've alluded to this before but I'm pretty systematic about my goal setting and agenda use. I like to break everything down. I more than touched on it here.

So anyways, here I am, reviewing a pitch. It's a new one and I've revised it. I think that's why I caught myself doing something I hadn't done in awhile.

A few weeks after I had started selling, I found myself improving, some of the time. I tried to take note of how and when things went well or really took a turn for the worse. With some help from my friends/Raoul I came to realize that there are trigger phrases, both good and bad, that work a lot of the time. There are pivotal questions you can ask. I numbered all of the most important aspects. It was the bare bones of a sales pitch.

I didn't succeed in my sales career, at first. It wasn't until last summer, when I was pitching asshole Fortune 500 American CEO's with dicks' that swung low that I got good. It was time to step up, or step aside. I leaned into my first calls. I pushed. As long as I could get from #1-4 or 5 with hard urgency, I could ensure a fair shot at the sale.

I came up with the steps: I had to make a certain number of calls by lunch. I had to make a certain number of calls by the end of the day. I had to make a certain number of calls after the day. I had to do research to make sure I could make enough calls the next day. I went through the steps. I made 60 calls by lunch. And if someone picked up, I started at number one. Number 4 or 5, depending on the pitch, was my goal. I repeated all the steps, every day. That was the best month of my career.

I realized that I make lists and steps intrinsic to complex tasks. It's not just in the agenda. It's more systematic than I thought. And most importantly, if you do what's on the lists, it works.

A Technological Gamble

2010-05-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a full position on TYH. I don't usually just jump in like this. If it goes down, I'll double-down.

The stars have aligned, convincing me the current valuation of $31.14 is FAR from the appropriate valuation. I'll report back in a few days, hopefully/CERTAINLY with a win.

On a related note, I'm compiling the buy-list I mentioned here. I'll get back to you on that one after further review.

*Tips Hat.*

*By stars aligned, I mean this guy said it was a good idea.

Preparation

2010-05-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

I'm pumped up about this week. From here on in, it's just preparing to go home. I have a lot to do and it might not be easy, but it will be more than worth it.

The future looks bright. Time to make it so.

Urgency

2010-05-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

In sales, you always need people to "Buy Now!"

If you think about it, you see it all the time:

"Limited Time Offer."

"While Supplies Last."

"One Day Only."

And the list goes on.

Here's a subtle example that I stumbled across today. Not only is the conference well-priced, but the buying mechanism compels you to act sooner, lest you miss out.

A Stock-Saturated Sunday

2010-05-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

I'm awake early, because I was boring yesterday. By that of course I mean I was too hungover to move. Seriously, I was labouring to breathe. I was going to go get groceries but I've downgraded the priority of that. I don't want to accumulate too much in the way of foodstuffs before running home late next week.

I feel more like researching anyways. I'm pretty bearish on the whole macro-economic situation. The Euro doesn't seem like a great option over the longer term. The markets have been volatile and I have been busy, so that means it's time to hide in cash and other low beta names. If things are going to get worse though, it's also an opportunity to go discount shopping. I'm researching stocks that are fundamentally awesome and have had strong earnings growth. I'm trying to get an idea of price history with a little technical analysis on the side. I want good long-term companies, that I can buy for cheap now, across an array of sectors. Maybe I'll share what I come up with.

Most of all, this is just another reflection on how amazing it is to me what we are capable of and privy to. Friday night, I had a conversation with a friend. He said that business as we knew it was dead. I don't think he knew what he was talking about. His lack of optimism and entrenched thinking upset me, to a surprising degree. I mean, I'm still thinking about it.

Fifty years ago I couldn't have acquired this comprehensive an analysis of the price history and fundamental picture of a given security. The internet has allowed me access to almost anything. One hundred and fifty years ago, if I had gone to work at the local factory, as the majority of the people would have, and I didn't like my job, I wouldn't have had any options. Last year, I went to work full-time for the first time. I hated my job. I quit and started my own thing. I stuck it to the man. This democratization of information must continue - it's my business model, after all - because it empowers the individual.

On a COMPLETELY unrelated note, I'm going to start using hashtags in my tweets more. It's because I saw this presentation. It's worth watching if you have some time.

Slovak Gay Pride Parade Goes Awry.

2010-05-22T13:34:00.001-07:00

http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/38949/2/neo_nazis_attack_slovakias_first_gay_pride_event_cancelling_its_parade.html

The Important Matter of Reflection

2010-05-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

I had to do some tap-dancing today, if you know what I mean. But it all went smoothly in the end, despite our desperate flurry of behind the scene action to ensure we keep our approach aimed at perfection.

As I said earlier today, we did all we could to prepare, and then were set to deal with the rest. A lot of the really important things went really smoothly. A lot of other stuff came up that we never could have anticipated, - and I'm glad we didn't waste time trying. But we're wiser for the experience. I guess this is how you learn intricacies of your industry, by experimenting. I guess this is how you become great. Just keep iterating and reflecting.

I know my next big day won't be perfect, but I can give you a long list of concrete reasons as to why it will be better than the last one.

Active reflection is something that has been incredibly helpful to me, in the last two years particularly. Each day I try to take some time to think and write about what's going down at work. I have a running word document that I started in Nov 2009. The next day I read what I wrote during the previous day or two. It's been incredibly helpful in keeping me focused and in touch with my goals and thoughts. If you have a better strategy, I'd love to hear it.

A Big Day

2010-05-19T01:40:00.001-07:00

We've been working hard over the last three months, and it all comes down to today.

I feel a little anxious, the kind where you're not sure if you're nervous or excited. Usually it's a bit of both. A lot of my future rides on how today goes.

The key now is to realize what's done is done. All that's left is to mitigate any crisis as it happens. I'm trying to anticipate problems. I'm developing contingencies as best I can. I'm pouring another coffee.

Just like when I coordinated orientation week at Queen's, I keep learning that while it is important to plan and prepare for success, it is equally paramount to flexible and quick to assess and react to any unexpected circumstances.

Value-Added?

2010-05-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

It's the question I've been asking myself lately.

Facebook is the latest victim. I have too many friends, and I waste entirely too much time reading noise, while enjoying little in the way of signal. I gave the matter some thought, and my conclusion is such: Given my personal ideas about privacy, but mostly based on how I think Facebook can give me the best user experience, I've decided to cut a significant number of idiots from my all-access Friends list.

I have an egregious number of Facebook friends. I'm not a sleazy dude and I haven't tried very actively to acquire them, save a few choice ladies. I was however, at the perfect age, ideally positioned to ride the wave that would be, when I first joined Facebook. All of my cohort have hundreds of friends, that's not news. In my case though, and that of many others, it was compounded by diverse involvement in extracurricular activities and a generally positive, outgoing demeanor. These extraneous forces conspired to ensure the abundance of acquaintances I now find myself struggling to manage. If you've ever read Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, you should get the concept.

I'm a year out of University and while I will partake in a stalking tangent on the very odd occasion, my circle of friends has tightened in the most-prior twelve months. I just don't see a lot of these people anymore. I haven't seen some of them in a really longtime. By being able to creep on people I don't care about (sounds harsh, but we're being real here) am I really enriching my life? When I do get the impromptu photo-creep-bug it's probably a good thing that I'll now be limited to people I give at least an iota of significance to.

Time saved.

Now, what's next on the chopping block?

Formulaic Trading

2010-05-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

I touched on this previously. But I want to elaborate right here, right now.

By no means am I an expert at investing, but I like examining how trading and investing relates to life. I like the trend analogy quite a bit, but I left out one important thing.

Again, as trading, as in life, I think that it's important to be as algorithmic as possible. In my experience, people get into habits of thinking they are awesome or above mistake. This is when they make the most errors.

The great thing about formulae are that they don't discriminate or vary. To trade a trend then, I need to have an objective concept of what a trend is. Seems obvious. For me then, in this instance, an uptrend is 3 higher lows on a daily chart, a downtrend is the opposite. I'll find an example and update this when I have more than two free seconds. But the point is, use formulas to eliminate human error, whenever possible.

Slota Update

2010-05-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

I hate to keep ragging on racist Slovak politicians (not really). But in "honour" of Jan Slota, I post some more of his public statements for your viewing "enjoyment"/awe.

(about homosexuals): "I have no problem with them, if they will stay in shadow
and just make their disgusting sexual orgies."

"If the Slovak National Party is extremist, than Hungarians are radioactively
extremists, they radiate more than Chernobyl. The best solution would be
backfill them with beton."

"Slovaks are probably genetically stupid."

"Drug dealers must immediately be shot, [Deputy PM for Economy Ivan]
Mikloš immediately fired, Hungarians forbidden, Gypsies destroyed,
Americans spat on, and the 17 secret service agents sicked on Slota
recalled. Is that enough?"

You can find the quotes in their entirety, here. Read/shake your head at your own risk.

Only in Bratislava

2010-05-10T02:39:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks time, Slovakia will host it's first Pride Parade. The mainstream media is celebrating this as a progressive step forward.

The mainstream media however, is at stark odds with some of the most prominent politician's in the country, whose views are boldly espoused here.

It's hard to imagine an elected official in Canada saying such things. It should remind us how far we've come and how there are people and places in the world that know oppression we couldn't fathom. Here are some "highlights" from the linked article:

"We'll show them here, on streets of Slovakia's capital, that they're an undesirable element here. I'll personally come to spit at them," announced Slota.

"It has nothing to do either with morals, Christian traditions or a society based on the family. I'm firmly convinced that it's sick," said Slota.

"... But I don't want my kids to look at those lunatics," added Slota."

YEAR IN REVIEW

2010-05-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago, to the hour, I touched down in Slovakia. I subsequently got black out drunk and made it home, all thanks and praise to divine intervention.

It's almost impossible to believe that I've been here, in Bratislava, for a year. It's gone by relatively quickly, especially the last few months; and yet, there were days, near the beginning in particular, that felt as though they dragged on for at least 7 eternities. That's a lot of eternities, I'll have you know.

I've come a long way, let me declare. Not so long ago, I had nary a clue, how to get anywhere. I didn't even have a concept of where I might need to go. Thank goodness the grocery store has oversized pictures of fruit adorning it. I can now cop oatmeal and Nutella in a number of supermarkets, with impressive efficiency.

I'm a public transport ninja, jumping from bus to tram to streetcar, all the while dodging ticket inspectors with impunity. I use a ticket about 8% of the time, and have yet to be caught by the steroid-jacked, skinhead trolls who patrol the system - I'm crafty as hell, but have now likely jinxed myself.

It's not all firecrackers and sunsets though. I don't know as much Slovak as I would like. But I haven't made learning it a priority. The blame rests solely on my shoulders. Had I known the Slovak word for shoulders, I would have used it right there. After I quit my job, and the two language-lessons a week that were included pro bono, Google Translate became a surprisingly effective teacher. I am able to articulate myself quite well as a result, but often have no idea what the ensuing reply is. I don't get thrown for as many loops in the grocery store. As of now, I can get by pretty well on the day-to-day, but when shit hits the fan, you need to have a native speaker around.

I can spot tourists from a mile away.

Certain smells and songs seem to anchor me to different times. The wafting odor of the nearby Kraft factory reminds me of summer nights. A track from the most recent Dave Matthews band album reminds me of feeling hopeless and alone, as upsetting as that might sound.

I've seen a lot of places, but not enough. Eastern Europe is amazing and the culture is something else entirely. In the last few months I've been fortunate enough to hit up not only rural Slovakia, but Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary. The list is due to expand this summer, which I'm excited about. Now that I'm in a position of increased freedom, and as I realize/jump-for-joy that I'm not going to be here forever, I will certainly make further travel around Europe, specifically Eastern Europe and the Balkans, a priority.

I got sold on a job that turned out to be a lot less desirable than I had been led to believe. I felt chained to my desk and enslaved, trading my valuable hours for not nearly enough Euro. So I quit, and started my own firm. It has been immensely challenging, but the rewards, financial and otherwise, have been well worth the risk. I am excited to continue growing my business.

It's been a great time, and I don't regret it whatsoever. But let me make one thing clear, for all you kids who think I'm just hangin' in Europe, without a care in the world: Living alone in a non-English speaking country for a year has been very difficult. It's been unfathomably frustrating, on more than one occasion. I can only imagine how much different my experience would have been, had I been less focussed on work and in a country where I could easily communicate with the locals. French only would have been a positive, even. As I said earlier though, I don't harbor ANY regrets about how I'm doing things. As long as I continue to always hustle harder, I'm bound to do alright.

If I learn half as much in year two, as I did in year one, I'll be well on my way to "certified genius" in no time.

I'm pumped about the idea of going home.

Greece, How Important.

2010-05-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Watch here live as all these hairy bastards destroy my purchasing power with their egregious and unsustainable lifestyle.

Coming Up Next

2010-05-04T07:27:00.001-07:00

I'm working on a "Year in Review" post. It's hard to imagine that I've been here for that long (ok, only 363 days, so far).

While you wait for my annual reflection, chew on this old post to provide some perspective of what I was going through at the start.

2010-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Don't Time the Top

2010-05-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

I see it in stock blogs all the time: Leave your bias at the door, find the trend, ride the trend and eventually get off. It's not worth trying to maximize your gains by picking the bottom or waiting to sell at exactly the right moment. Most of the money is made in the middle. At the extremes, the risks are too high.

I thought of this at work today, I'm not sure exactly what it was that prompted the reflection, but it's irrelevant. What matters is the realization, that not only in stocks, but in life, it's not about timing the top or picking the bottom.

It's about realizing the trends, riding them, and getting off. This means being observant. What trends in society, your customers, your peers, your community and your own personal life can you identify? This is trickier than it sounds, sometimes we find trends we desperately don't want to see. But don't deny yourself reality. This is the world we live in, so accept it for what it is. Check your bias at the door. Your original hypothesis might be wrong, swallow your pride and accept that. Your original hypothesis doesn't matter. Altering your hypothesis given what you observe however, is paramount.

Now that you've identified the trend and are exploiting it for all its worth - whether that be making a neat iPod cord management systems or investing in companies that clean up oil spills - try to stay objective. Don't fall in love with the trend. It's only a trend; as just a little more than a fad, it's destined to change. Set a target ahead of time, of what you're hoping to get out of the trend. Then stick to that target, or at the very least keep reflecting on it, to ensure you don't lose touch. Trends come into being slowly, but can go out of style quick. The important corollary, hidden in there then, is to always be on the lookout for new trends. Your cord management business might be going swell, but if wireless headphones are becoming the norm, you need to start working on a new product, to be ready for the next salvo of potential customers waiting to be served.

Identify, profit, get out. Repeat.

Ironing, Zen and a Clear Mind

2010-05-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

It was nice not to be hungover today. Enough so that I felt the need to mention it in the title of this blog post, apparently.

I've done my best to get my "Carpe Diem" on and take advantage of my able mind and body. It's been productive.

I am finally getting around to this giant heap of ironing. It's LONG overdue. Ironing has been something that traditionally, I have loathed. It's tedious, boring, and for what?

I'm changing my attitude. Summer is coming. I can't hide under sweaters. I need to be consistently ironing to look and feel my best. Shit.

Rather than procrastinate, feel guilt and look shabby, I'm trying to embrace the chore for what it is. It's about making me look crisp-as-hell. I can take pride in becoming great at ironing, because it will only benefit my image. It's still obviously not a thrill, but I need to do it for the same reasons I shower everyday. By recognizing it's importance the task seems more worthwhile.

I've found that a good ironing soundtrack helps too.

If you're looking for more mind food today, I watched Obama's recent commencement speech this morning, worth checking out.

What Do You REALLY Want?

2010-04-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

It's another obvious blog post. But I can't help it, the common sense is just flowing out of me these days.

Today, we'll address the "what do you want?" questions. This seems extra timely because of all my friends who are finally finishing up at University, and don't have a clue what the next step is. I know what my own next step is, and I know where I want to be a few steps after that. This is a recent development though. I've only just taken my future into my own hands by visualizing exactly what I want and planning how to get it.

I want to focus on the first part of that previous sentence: Visualize what you want. This is goal setting 101. This is the fun part. I think people just forget to do it. That or they are afraid to realize what they are capable of. Take a minute, and think. What do you want a year from now? I mean, where exactly do you want to be? Who will be with you? Imagine. What will you be doing? What is making you happy? WHY is that making you happy? Be lavish in your daydreams, and always be sure to answer that "why?" Write down what you're after. We can develop the plans to reach your goal later. Today's lessons is about thinking big and accurately. It's about understanding that success happens by design, and never by default.

It's like this: Imagine you'll be traveling. Pick a destination. Enthrall yourself with a mental model and get delighted about the splendors you'll enjoy after your arrival. We'll plan how to get there soon. Today, I just want you to get infatuated with the destination.

Bratislava: A Tourist Perspective

2010-04-27T11:46:00.001-07:00

I had an epiphany today. It should have come about 11 months earlier.

There are security cameras everywhere, because everywhere there aren't security cameras, there is a RIDICULOUS amount of graffiti.

Due to an ongoing camera compatibility issue, you'll have to take my word for it, come visit, or go by the stolen picture above.

NOTE:

In finding the above picture, I read this description of someone's stay in Bratislava. Here are some highlights:

"All I can say is wow."

"The first thing you realize about Bratslava is that much much less attractive than any other european city (at least the ones I've been to). Buildings are half completed, trash is everywhere, graffiti is rampant, and the city feels more like an urban wasteland than the glorious capitol city of an independent nation. "

I couldn't have said it better myself.

"The second thing you notice about Bratslava is that every single girl is absolutely, brilliantly exquisite
bar. I have been all around Western Europe and a good deal of Eastern Europe, and never before had I seen a grand quantity of smoking hot girls in one place"

Good to know he has been to many places, to substantiate his earlier claims. All true so far.

The Curious Case of the Name Change

2010-04-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

I just wanted a fun title, really.

This is in response to a tweet from @stephaniefusco, who worked with me in the AMS and who I can say many great things about, that linked me to an article, I want to quip.

Now, I quote news paper articles all the time, my friends will tell you. They are constantly bombarded by the shit I'm sending them to substantiate all kinds of legit claims. Really I'm just thinking of them. After reading this article, if I'm going to

I'd like to say two quick things on the subject:

1. The article assumes causality when correlation is likely the case. I would be remiss if I didn't bring this up, and thoughts of my old stats 263 prof, Chuck Molson, - a stand up guy - would haunt me. For example:

"On average, those who had changed their name were older, had lower educational levels, had more children and held more conservative family values. And although they tended to display a stronger work ethic, they also worked fewer hours per week and earned a lower salary than those who did not change their names."

I bet that's true. But it's also worth noting that a lot of young women in today's cohort, have been taught different values than the older women the above paragraph mentions. It seems plausible to me that these values were taught to them at a young age, by their parents who ensured they were educated and exposed them to diverse experiences. I would say that these factors are more likely to predispose a woman to be successful than changing her name. I would go as far to say that to argue to the contrary would be sexist. I am betting that it is these factors, implemented early and consistently throughout life, that helped these women empower themselves to make more money and reach the heights of corporate stardom.

What I'm trying to say is: I'm sure the fact that they changed their name is indicative of who they are as a person - all decisions are. Who they are is the primary factor in why they're so successful and that's something that develops before most women are considering marriage.

Of course that doesn't account for societies' views on women who do change their last name when married and the profound effect it has, as the article clearly demonstrates,

2. As I alluded to at the start. I quote articles constantly. If the proof is evident, I back it. i think a wife with a different last name could be really fun, seriously. You could be like "Hi Ms. Smith" and she would be like "Hey, Mr. Johnson." Hilarious, right?

I mean if I was in your place, I'd probably go for it. I'm too much of a capitalist.

Not that I am thinking about marriage now, or anytime soon.

BREAKING NEWS: TWITTER PROVES USEFUL

2010-04-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

It's true! Here's what happened:

I was sitting quietly, enjoying a smoked salmon sandwich, when I was rudely interrupted by obnoxious horn honking and a loud but distorted voice. Oftentimes, gypsies drive around in cars yelling things with megaphones. I shrugged it off as a protest or some cheap fake Lacoste sale.

I landed my browser on Twitter and searched for what was happening in Bratislava. I did this once in Vienna to explain why 10,000 students were protesting outside our hotel. No other english source was available.

Of course there was nothing related to the belligerent street-dwellers and dumpster-diverse below to be found. There was however much talk of conferences. People, business travel folk, were talking real time about conferences they were at.

Now, the aim of my company is to systematically destroy business travel, one market segment at a time. This VERY TIMELY information is deemed HIGHLY pertinent.

Anyways, I've gotten distracted and the voice in the megaphone has subsided.

Willing to be Awesome

2010-04-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

So it turns out, your willpower is finite. You need to budget that shit.

But in my quest to be the embodiment of awesome, I need to throw around willpower like I'm Pacman Jones at your favorite gentleman's club.

And so the dilemma steps into the light: How to reconcile my limited ability to make good decisions with my need to always opt for the best option? What is a fledgling entrepreneur and self-development obsessed individual to do?

I think I've got an answer: Put that shit on autopilot.

By this I mean, enslave yourself to good habits, of course. The beauty of habits, are that they are automatic behaviours. They are something of a heroin-addicted, Ukranian whore to put in their place, but once established they will perform dutifully without you having to do much more than flex your pimp hand.

It's not quite that easy though. You really need to look at your behaviours. You need to remind yourself of your goals when you are at the decision making point. You need to deconstruct your goal and focus on small aspects of it. Declaring to lose weight, or get in shape, for example, is too ambiguous. Take a month to put a specific habit in place. Replace your morning donut with an apple. Do this every day until it becomes the natural thing to do; until it becomes easy; until you don't need to exert any willpower to opt for the apple. At this point, you can focus on running every morning, or swimming four times a week.

It's unrealistic to think you can wake up to a changed life. You need to make the change happen by making the right decisions. The right decisions are hard, and require tackling very specific behaviours one at a time. It's not glamorous, it's not fast, but it works and is sustainable over the long term. It always seems to come back to incremental improvement as the best way forward.

AFTERTHOUGHT: Maybe this begins to explain why a teenaged @jiashwu eventually caved to peer-pressure, after a valiant attempt at being responsible. Sorry to drag you down, old pal.

Sloppy Sidewalks

2010-04-26T12:38:00.001-07:00

I trip a lot when I walk here. The sidewalks look like the surface of the moon.

I used to think everyone I pass on the streets had their eyes fixated on their toes because they were upset about the shitty lives they led. I'm starting to think that in addition to that, if they aren't careful where they step they'll fall and hurt themselves.

When the sidewalks aren't flat, maintained, or coherently connected to one another, it makes the prospect of ending up in hospital, all the more terrifying.

Alignment: An Earth Day Reflection

2010-04-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying, I'm not much of an environmental advocate. I don't REALLY care enough to alter my action, I'll be frank. Carbon footprint, meh?

I'm a biochemist, after all, so my love of science is profound. I don't think the science is settled, when it comes to anthropogenic global warming. But don't take my word for it, I suggest you watch the second best-known, and first best, global climate change documentary. I personally am paranoid enough to consider that Goldman Sachs engineered the whole scheme in order to produce a new market to exploit.

But that's not what this is about. What I am interested in, is what other people are interested in. As a fledgling entrepreneur, this is an important characteristic I must embrace and nurture, if I wish to effectively serve others. And this, is why I have an interest in the environment. Because other people are interested. With all the Earth Day hoopla blowing up my Twitter feed today, I got to thinking about my actions and how they might impact the environment.

ASIDE: I guess that's why things like Earth Day ARE important, to spread awareness and make you think.

Coming from a liberal Canadian university campus just a short year ago, I still have many close friends who harbor environmental sustainability amongst their highest priorities. At this point I want to make it clear that, global warming or no global warming, I think it's incredibly important to develop renewable energy sources. I think it's in our best interest to treat our environment carefully, just not necessarily because the Earth is [allegedly] heating up a little. All that being said, I eventually got to thinking about my own business.

I found a carbon offset calculator and did some quick math. If we had hosted live events in London, instead of webinars, we would have produced an additional 50 tons of carbon dioxide. And we're just getting started! The amount of revenue we drive is literally directly and positively proportional to a decrease in carbon dioxide, in terms of travel, - commercial flights, specifically.

I'm stoked that by running an almost completely cloud based business, we've virtually eliminated all of the significant sources of adverse environmental impact; we've managed to align ourselves with an incredibly important trend, that I believe will continue to gain strength. We need to leverage it more actively, it's literally in the best interest of the Earth, and conveniently my pocket.

UPDATE: I did some research, the average person in the UK has a carbon footprint 10 tons of carbon dioxide a year. So far we have offset five of those tea sippers.

The Joys of Winship

2010-04-21T05:37:00.001-07:00

My job involves a lot of rejection. A lot. It's pretty exhausting. I could very accurately model my emotional state with a sine wave that oscillates to each extreme of the spectrum, at an incredible frequency. Each day starts filled with promise, and often times it is ripped out of my outstretched arms at the last second.

That's precisely why it feels so good to win. When the periodic function that depicts my temperament, on any given day, moves to the positive extreme, it's a joy like no other. It feels really good to be good at something that's so hard.

And I'm always getting better. Continuous improvement and steps in the right direction eventually, inevitably, reach a tipping point, and I see real progress. Whether or not I made a sale this day, this hour, this call, matters less than knowing that I am doing the right thing. If I keep doing the right thing, I'm bound to find victory around a corner not so far away, if not the next one.

Incremental Improvement

2010-04-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

My old friend @jiashwu blogged about it here (and my morning routine has never been the same since). I knew it was important, but I never really knew until recently. By that I mean, I'd never consciously reflected on it.

I'm reminded of a conversation I had with Dean of Student Affairs at Queen's University, Dr. Laker, when I was coordinating the 2008 Orientation week. Queen's boasts the only student-run Orientation week in Canada, which I was at the helm of in 2008 (who's boasting now?). It's also the subject of much scrutiny, year over year. Jason, as I colloquially called him, once told me in the splendor of his gigantic, corner office that he liked the idea of gently improving upon orientations past, rather than a once-every-ten-year draconian review. I agreed, it made sense in practice. It also sounded easier than overseeing such a daunting review.

Over the last few weekends, Sarp and I have been continually improving our living situation. We have been consistently making small purchases, a light fixture here, a shower head there. And in looking back now, at how things have changed in the last month, I can confidently proclaim that our space is a lot better than it used to be. Adjustable lighting levels and massage-able shower heads go a long way, even though they're not particularly glamorous items.

My personal development is probably a lot similar. I'm not going to run a marathon tomorrow. But I will be victorious in my pre-7am 7km conquest. And next week maybe I'll push for 8. It's tedious, it's monotonous, but it's sustainable progress.

I think the same thing goes for business. You can't anticipate every bad thing that's going to happen. And I assure you, with all too much of my own personal experience, things will go awry. Business though, is like golf, in that what's most important is being able to adeptly correct from a poor stroke, rather than consistently hammering out perfect shots every time.

I have a pretty good idea of what my clients want, but I can't know for sure. There is a moment at which the extent of my planning becomes redundant. It is CERTAINLY important to get to that point, and plan properly. But don't dwell on it. I need to launch my product and then listen for feedback. If I've completely missed the mark, I might need to assess and make an executive decision to change direction or choose to stay the course. Or maybe a slight adjustment is all that the Dr. will order (I'm serious, a lot of my clients are doctors). Either way, you can only plan to a point. At some instance you have to just go for it. Then, shut up and listen to what people are saying. Make the appropriate changes as quickly as possible. And then keep listening.

Oh yeah, it probably goes without saying that the faster you can improve the better.

Documenting a Win

2010-04-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

I try to tweet my stock market buys and sells, sometimes to the confusion of rogue followers and social media-adept university friends. Most of the time though, I forget. I have very recently made it a priority. I'm sick of sloppy trading. A reliable income stream from hand-selecting winning equities at sublime valuations seems like a delightful complement to any lifestyle. Ergo, it's worth the practice.

Here's a recent example, it's my best recorded call ever, on account of I've always done an atrocious job. I used the methodology I talked about previously. Although this very well could have been a fluke, I will take this opportunity to declare my winship nonetheless. It's my blog, after all.

I have a personal interest in making money off the subject of cloud computing, one way or another. It's fitting then, that the equity in question is RAX.

Here was the first brazen statement I made (click through the twitpick to see the equity at the time of purchase, $19.25). I've never posted a chart on the internet before. I usually just draw them up and erase them. They're not worthy of the eyes of others. The reason being is, it all seems far too simple. It's an arbitrary thing, really. I'm a very visual person, so it's almost hard not for me to play connect the dots. That's why I can't rely only on some lines and shapes. Anyhow, the story goes on...

Then, I bought.

Celebration ensued. Here's the stock now.

Hopefully more to come. Must stay focused.

Oh yeah, I sold 1/3 of the position just shy of $21 for a 10% win. The volume on the breakout was really strong, and the consolidation this afternoon has been relatively low volume. I think that could mean people are holding on to their shares? That means we go higher?

Language Degradation Through Globalization

2010-04-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Ottawa, a stone's throw from Quebec, the French speaking province of Canada, for the uneducated readers amongst the audience. I was taught French from a young age, as a result.

The problem was, the French we learned in the classroom was very different from the French spoken by our neighbours just East of us. I remember the first time I boarded an Air France flight, I was amazed at the clarity of the French I heard. It too, was so unlike the "Quebecois" we'd been berated with on ski trips, or when we went to buy liquor as underaged kids.

Today at lunch, I went to the food court at a new mall. As I walked from Taco stand, to Czech food place, I passed Burger King. I heard someone order in Slovak, except for when they stuck the prefix "bacon-cheese" in front of their order. I was immediately reminded of Quebec adolescents yelling in mutilated frenglish. For whatever reason, these English expressions just seem to catch on.

Slovak sounds lovely. I can't speak it, but it sounds nice. The invasion of MTV and multinational corporations have brought me a much needed conduit through which to experience Western society, but what are the effects on the locals? This Tedster has an interesting perspective.

I'm excited about an increased prevalence of English, it makes my life easier. But how it will infiltrate the world, the conduits through which it will spread, and the subtle implications those complications have are of interest to me.

An Unexpected Lesson From Mr. Caufield

2010-04-12T13:01:00.001-07:00

I’ve been reading Catcher in the Rye, again. That is to say, I’ve just read Catcher and the Rye again, rather. I have should have been done before today, really.

The problem, and I’ve realized this is a recurring theme, is that I just forget what’s important. I’m easily excited, I forget about the bigger picture, if only momentarily. That’s what happened with this Salinger classic. That’s why I didn’t get it finished earlier. I just forget what’s important. I never forget what’s REALLY important. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have my shit together. I get distracted easily though when it comes to less important things.

I was eating some toast with Nutella, watching MTV Czech when I was blindsided by the memory of the commitment I’d made myself. I resisted at first. I was having a great time lounging about, after all. But I asked myself why I had written it down. I wanted to finish Catcher because I wanted to start a new book and for urgencies sake that book needed to be read quickly because it was non-fiction and therefore immediately pertinent to my life. When I remembered why I had written down the goal or obligation in the first place, I wanted to do it again. I had to take a mental step back from the “incredibly stimulating” reality I had occupied, before the idle thought.

I’m glad I’ve identified the behaviour, that’s a practical first step. Now I just need to work on remembering things better. Maybe it’s just a matter of writing down everything I deem important, and carrying around said written account. That’s a good second step, at the very least. And I already do it, to a large extent. I just forget sometimes, usually once I’m at home.

Anyways, that’s what I observed today, thanks for stopping by. Any insights appreciated, as per usual.

PS: I’ve been listening to these Zig Ziglar tapes, as I alluded to yesterday. I like it when he said everyone should write a book, or what some less ambitious people might call a journal, because I’m doing that. Not that a book necessarily needs to be published.

A Step Back

2010-04-11T03:33:00.000-07:00

I'll get right to the point here, I'm sure you're Sunday time is at a premium. At least mine was when I worked in the produce section of my local Loblaws, all thanks and praise to the union for that perk.

In all seriousness though, I think unions are lame sauce.

I often get caught up in the day to day. I'm excited rather easily, I must admit. But this day, hangover free, I am seeing things a little more clearly than yesterday, thank goodness. And that's the point, it's important to see things clearly. It's important to see things from different perspectives and deconstruct them in different ways.

In the last month, business has picked up quite a bit. Things are going well. The challenge is now to keep improving, while showing little patience for complacency. I'm accomplishing this with incremental goals and a clear path forward. I wish I could do it faster. But sometimes I forget why I do these things. I'm reading a GQ, something I rarely do. Not because I don't have any, but because I don't allocate the time to peruse my collection.

It's not that I want to look really fresh. Ok, well I mean, that's part of it. Maybe it's because I'm in a place where people were deprived of an environment in which they could pursue their ambitions, for so long. But looking at ads of fly suits, and reading harrowing human interest stories of brave feats, and hurdles overcome, inspires me a little bit. It reminds me of the kind of person that I want to be. I would hate for you to interpret this post as a simple "Ode to Capitalism and the Pursuit of Material Goods." That would be rather low-brow. All I'm saying, is that inspiration and motivation come on many levels. I'm positively effected by the contents of the pages; but even more so, I find myself identifying with the theme and the promise that the GQ brand exudes. It's the "Men of the Year" issue, for crying out loud (whatever that means). They're celebrating success. That's primarily why this magazine has inspired this post.

Today, this is how I find myself getting pumped up, for the week ahead. You can't control this shit, friends.

I need to always be upping my game. If I'm not, somebody else is. You see kids, it's not about the money, it's about the win. I am learning, quickly mind you, that the art of winning feels better than a pile of cash. The pile of cash is just a convenient bonus to help you get by in this harsh world we inhabit.

I'm downloading some Zig Ziglar audio books. I can always work on my closing skills. It's the most important skill set, after all. If you can't close, what good are you, I wonder?

In other news, I'd like to proclaim, with pride in my voice no less, that my "greening up postulation," summarized in detail here, is coming to fruition. Accuweather.com assured me a weekend of rain. However, it's held out so far, and I've taken advantage with long and frequent strolls around my hood, naturally. Suffice it to say, it's lush as hell outside. The realm visible from my elevated balcony is well on it's way to looking all "Hanging Garden's of Babylon." Once again, playing the bigger angle prevails.

Grooving

2010-04-10T08:47:00.001-07:00

I feel like a homeless person, in the grips of a serious withdrawal. I'm hungover, in the extreme. Thanks Sarp. It's mostly that we just didn't get home until incredibly late.

Anyways, it's not all bad. The forecast was for rain and yet sunshine lights up my living room.

This song is also pretty fun, if you ask me.

http://www.thenoisecollective.co.cc/2010/04/the-aptly-named-mos-dub/

What's the Difference?

2010-04-09T11:20:00.001-07:00

I'll tell you.

I was taking a leisurely afternoon stroll, you know, to clear my head. "I've almost been here a year; crazy!" I quipped to my business partner, Raoul.
"Imagine how much different it would have been if you were in an English speaking country." He retorted.

I imagined it.

Things would be a lot different. I like to think that overcoming adversity confers some sort of benefit over the longer-term. I'll somehow magically be better for struggling to get by. Maybe that is delusional self-rationalization. Either way, I have less friends than I would otherwise and despite my GPS-like knowledge of local streets and back-alleys, when shit hits the fan, if I don't have a native Slovak speaker around I find myself in shit-creek, again, obviously devoid of any object that might be used to propel me out of such said open sewer.

Binge

2010-04-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the movie Casino? I haven’t, but I read this and it got me thinking it might be worth 2 precious hours of my life. It's just that I’ve been on a movie watching bender lately. I find myself continuously looking for suggestions, as a result. I guess the whole thing has to do with that addictive personality of mine. I’d appreciate any feedback though, if you feel the aforementioned film is worth a watch.

It’s funny to joke about such said personality disorder, but it’s more important that I figure out how to live with it. I’ve realized that this strategy of adoption is more likely to help me succeed in the world, than just trying to blatantly ignore my character “flaws.” I know, know, it’s important to do everything in moderation, but that’s just not my style. Unless there is a pressing sense of urgency, or novelty for that matter, I hardly ever partake in anything. And when I do partake, you know I dive right in, very promptly after I dip that first toe. Besides, I would argue that everything in excess, equates to moderation. Can you follow that math?

Whether it is drinking, exercising, work or studying, I tend to get easily excited, and engrossed with, any given activity. I find myself enthralled with a pastime. Then I quickly get bored of it and move on; or, in the case of my brief Internet poker addiction, until it becomes too expensive to justify. Besides, I was always more of a blackjack guy anyways.

On the topic of gambling in Slovakia, aside from the mini-casino at the Hotel Carlton, which for lack of sheer size is unable to accommodate the plethora of games you might find here, there isn’t much in the way of establishments I’d want to invest a Saturday night at.

Don’t get me wrong; there is an array of what I’ll call “gambling shacks,” brightly colored storefronts complete with roulette wheels and flashing jackpot signs, that will happily take your money. It’s just that when you take into account the seedy location of most of these places, coupled with the lack of regulatory compliance and prevalence of organized crime in the country, it seems I would have a better shot at being complicit in a money laundering operation than beating the house. Given my predisposition to binge behavior and risk-taking then, it seems I’d be better served to stay home and virtually attend the Red Casino. As per my own business, I’m obviously a fan of the online way of doing things anyways.

I think most kids at Queen's exhibited this to some extent too. Never have I met so many people who hustle hard during the week, only to find themselves upside-down on top of a keg, come the weekend, -err Thursday.

So this has been the first step, recognizing behavioral patterns. I’ll keep working on strategies to curtail, and maybe even leverage, the way that my brain seems to be wired. Yes, if I could turn a seemingly negative thing into a strength that would be good…

A Quick Take on Contentious Issues

2010-04-03T14:13:00.001-07:00

It's easy to get wound-up. Whether it is because of Sumo wrestling costumes, or a lost remote control forcing you to endure an episode of Made on MTVGermany. The reaction is often the same in it's emotional character. This afternoon I wasn't interested in finding the channel-changing instrument, so much as cussing at the incomprehensibility of the follies faced by a young nerd who was just dying to be a hip hop dancer.

I'm not interested in dissecting this particular qualm du jour. I'm sure there will be another one in a week or two. Maybe that's the one I'll choose to get really fussed about. It's just that I'm pretty busy right now, what with Easter and quarterbacking my company to dominate the world of virtual training. As a result, I've sort of missed the boat. So many others have quipped adequately about the story. Ergo, I'll keep this brief.

I hate complacency, don't get me wrong. It's my most worthy adversary. I am an incredibly firm advocate of incremental change. I believe that we can always improve.

That being said, I also think it's important to reflect on how far we've come, if only to use it as inspiration to continue our fight forward. I know this is because I've had a wild perspective change. I'm no longer on a liberal university campus. I'm in a country that has NEVER had a gay pride parade. I'm in a part of the world where I see oppression against minority groups in ways unfathomable to those of you privileged enough to reside in the Western World. I'm in a country that is in the process of passing legislation to become more nationalistic. I live in a country that has a fledgling but powerful neo-nazi movement.

And yet I'm positive, there are places in the world that are much worse than where I now find myself, as far as human rights abuse goes.

I applaud and appreciate your pursuit of an apparently elusive equality. Just please remember, when cooped up in your bubble, that there is a whole world of anguish, hurt, and unjust treatment, out there. A world that knows nothing of the rights you lobby for. Keep marching forward, but every once in a while take a minute to look at how far we've come.

PS - Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. Easter traditions in Slovakia see men whipping women with bows of willow and splashing them with cold water. The women in return, have to provide money and cakes to the men, naturally. I'll report back Easter Monday with an eye-witness account, but I have every reason to believe that a squabble about fat suits will pale in comparison to the absurdities that will be on display.

Live Blogging my 23rd Birthday

2010-03-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

4:50PM The afternoon was more of the same. I'm cooking some chicken and off to meet Patrick for some dranks (sic).

2:15PM I showered with the door open.

11:52AM

A lovely facebook post from my flatmate Sarp. I'm geting a little bit of work done, between champagne filled spiked glasses of orange juice.

V. Sarp Kayalar HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN! All the best, lots of chicks, and alcohol + success for your new age! The new era has started for us in Slovakia! This summer is just gonna be awesome! Just enjoy as much as you can.

PS: You are the best flatmate ever!!!:)

Sarp

UPDATE: Easy listening.

9:50AM
Some breaking news in the form of another hilarious decision by Queen's AMS Exec.

I mean, really??

Brandon Sloan, communications officer for the Alma Mater Society, suggested "white privilege" had blinded the student government, which is largely but not entirely white, to the seriousness of the issue.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2740807#ixzz0jdzkHI3y

8:50AM
Well, well, happy birthday to me. My office mates are in Mexico and Poprad respectively. I'll be joining the latter for Easter, which I'm excited about. Easter in Slovakia is a hilarious tradition, if you're a man.

Anyways, off to go mix some champagne with my orange juice. I couldn't find Alize at the grocery store, so this thug will be passionless.

Happy Aging.

Upside

2010-03-29T11:00:00.001-07:00

I acknowledge that it is lamer than a llama with a broken leg to keep blogging about the weather; but to be quite frank, this is my blog, and I shall continue to muse as I please - thank you very much. Besides, this blog post isn't really about the weather.

As I was saying, the forecast for the next two weeks is exceptionally positive. The weather looks great. I'm spending a lot of time on my balcony, looking out over my kingdom, taking in the fresh breeze and watching a parade of Slovak MILS dropping their children off at kindergarten try to parallel park in spaces that are far too tight.

But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The tentative meteorological predictions indicate that rain will fall. Rather than naively question the half-baked predictions of accuweather.com, I've decided to embrace the prophecies, despite their very nature being contrary to my ideal scenario. It's going to be April after all, in my experience that means rain. I'm not going to delude myself by hoping against hope (whatever that means) for the unlikely. That would be a waste of time.

Instead, I'm going to focus on the positive. I'm going to look for the bigger angle.

I love warm weather, particularly after such a bleak winter. This warm spell has me incredibly excited for summer. I’m grinning all the time and shit. I look forward to sitting on patios and watching the world (read: supermodels) pass by. I realize now then, that the inevitable rainstorms of Apri, are a necessity. Without them, I would never see the luscious green bloom that so delightfully defines Bratislava, through the months of May-September. Seeing this as a step in a larger journey, makes things much more bearable. Besides, who even needs to go outside these days? With X-Box Live and up scale casinos online a guy hardly needs to leave his house. If only I could figure out how to order a pizza in this country.

The same principal applies in sales. You need to understand why people are telling you “no” before you ever hear a “yes.” You need to dig through the shit, to find anything worthwhile. On your way to the yes, you better understand what people are looking for and how to best accommodate them. It seems futile, but it’s not.

When you begin to understand the greater forces at play, and briefly remove yourself from the toil of any given moment, you are able to see things in the proper perspective. You are able to see things for what they are, not just the microcosm that manipulates your current reality.

The rain, and wet socks that will assuredly follow, are a necessary evil then. If I'm interested in ushering in the greater good (summer), which I most definitely am.

Hilarious blogging planned for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Blog Blog Blog

2010-03-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

I've been blogging all irregular-like; as if I were the bowels of a Crohn's patient after a night at the local burrito bar. I'm working to remedy this problem. Things at the office, which generally dominate the VAST majority of my time, have eased up lately as things start to go "smooth-as-ice," whatever that means. As I iterated earlier, the key now is to keep them smooth, all silky and whatnot.

I just had the most domestic of weekends. Spring cleaning, mixed with a trip to Ikea, had me getting my "Betty the Home-Maker" on. I'm amazed at how a few euros spent on pillows, a floor lamp and bedside table add such value to space. I'm trying not to accumulate too much stuff while I'm here, but a few items here and there go a long way.

I don't know if thanks and praise are due to the sparse closets, following the weekend purge of a number of old and unwanted belongings, or the warm breeze, but I'm feeling quite invigorated these days. I would credit the egregious coffee consumption of this morning as fuel for my renewed energy, but this inspiration goes deeper than some magnificent caffeine dosing ploy.

I'm excited. There's a spark in my step. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I haven't felt this way since I first arrived here.

I like to think back to when I first arrived, standing alone at that desolate airport, waiting. Waiting. Completely incapable of improving my situation. I like to think about what's changed and what hasn't. I like to evaluate my routines. I feel as though such activities are a good barometer of how well-put-together my life is, on any given week. I used to go to the casino every Sunday with Sarp. They have free poker tournaments, and 1 euro black jack tables. Whereas, I spent last night in the office, trying to get a head start on the nascent week. Instead of hoping for a good draw, I'm actively working to improve my situation. Examples such as this intrigue me because I can see how my priorities have changed over the course of the last year. I like to think of it as progress, working away at something I value, rather than harboring a false-hope that the supermodel/dealer would slide an ace my way.

When it comes down to it, I realize I only have so much time, and I need to do what's most important. I need to prioritize. It sounds ridiculously simple, when I pen it out like this. But I just don't have time to be making weekly trips to the local gambling house. As per my business, I'm obviously a fan of the online approach. I mean if I do feel like a trip to the casino, I can do it without leaving the warm glow of my laptop screen.

The internet is awesome. And flexible solutions make sense for the busy man, whether it be a big-shooting business executive looking for the best competitive business information (Look at my website if you haven't already!!) or an ambitious twenty-something looking for a quick thrill at an online gambling joint. My number one priority then, is how to best use my time.

Mad Resources

2010-03-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Work has been a little bit LESS encompassing, for the first time in 6 months. We're sort of hitting our stride. The focus has shifted to "how to continue hitting our stride. And how to hit it better."

As a result, I've been finding myself checking on my stock portfolio more frequently, as I like to do in the first available iota of spare time.

I've tinkered a little bit: There has been net selling lately. My cash position is outrageous, at a hint higher than 50% cash. I've also invested 20% of my portfolio in US treasuries, via TLT . I bought when such said equity was in the high 80's. I plan to hold, or sell in the mid 90's. I therefore have relatively little equity exposure. The market is starting to tank a little; I decided it was time to do some research.

Using a favourite analytical engine I screened for high market cap companies with good fundamentals that were on the move this week. I researched a few, but the epiphany struck me quickly into my analysis of the first one, TEVA.

The stock immediately grabbed my attention because of it's big jump this week, and the insanely good fundamentals. I also like pharmaceutical companies; it's a personal interest. My mouse shot over to another bookmark. With four keystrokes I pulled up a chart of TEVA and analyzed it in multiple time frames. The recent volume patterns, and the all time highs of XPH are further confirmation that the stock might be a good buy candidate.

Seconds later I had a stream of ideas, and real time action, on the subject, when I searched TEVA at Stocktwits.com. A lot of people are buying the stock because they think it will benefit from a healthcare reform bill, as it turns out.

Apparently then, this stock, with great fundamentals and an impressive technical pattern also has a story behind it. I still believe that the market has a little ways down to go in the shorter and intermediate term. But this big cap stock might be worth looking at further as a potential long.

My real point though, lucky for you, is not my sub-par stock market logic. It is that because of the internet, I was able to get a very legit idea about a very real equity in real time. The relatively minute amount of action required (in part because of my awesome bookmark organization), and the quality of result are amazing to me. I feel empowered, as long as the power doesn't go out.

Refocusing

2010-03-13T22:06:00.000-08:00

My behaviour is often punctuated with binges. I think it's just that I'm easily excited. Or maybe I really like getting black-out-drunk. The last week has been one such binge.

It is 6:00 Sunday morning. I'm sitting alone in an upscale Viennese hotel room. My uncle left for the airport about an hour ago. And I wasn't able to fall back asleep. I'm drinking [cup after cup of] coffee and trying [successfully] to get an early start on the day. If this were North America, the clocks would have changed and I would be at an even bigger disadvantage [suckers].

As I mentioned earlier, it was phenomenal to have family visit. When you live in a part of the world that is so different from anything you had been acquainted with prior, it's nice to have your friends and family come see what you are going through; because words so often fail to convey an accurate depiction, to the chagrin of this blog. I'm also not that pumped to leave this here civilized world and return to the err, less-developed, Bratislava, in a few hours.

We had a great time over the course of the last 9 days, touring around Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, and of course my darling Slovakia. But now, my strýčko (Slovak for uncle, d'uh) had his early morning departure behind him; and I have a mini-bar's worth of amenities beside my laptop. I'm trying to get back in the game.

Owning my own business has allowed me some great flexibility. The age of connectivity that we find ourselves in has allowed me to easily keep a pulse on things, without too much stress. It's still my business though, and I feel bad for having not given it my utmost attention, but maybe I needed the break to realize that. I'm stoked to get to to the office tomorrow and start actively hustling again. I'm hungry to earn.

So as one week of bingeing wraps up, another, entirely different one, begins. And through it all, maybe a twisted form of moderation will emerge, keeping me from self-destructing for at least a little while longer.

Happy Sunday

Memories Triggered

2010-03-04T11:23:00.001-08:00

The gentle encroachment of warm weather has me opening my windows. The mild breeze carries with it a familiar scent.

There is a Kraft Foods factory upwind. It doesn't produce an obnoxious odor, but one that certainly taints the air. I haven't smelt it since summer. It's got me thinking how funny it is, that I'll soon have been here for a year. The same thing happens when I hear this song. The album dropped right before I arrived.

I've come a long way since then, but still have quite a distance to go.

ASIDE: For the record, I'm wicked jealous of all my friends who are making it to DMB in Toronto.

I Do What I Want

2010-02-28T00:57:00.000-08:00

It's 10:00am on a Sunday. I just made my second pot of coffee. I'm not tired, I just love coffee. Maybe I should consider decaf one of these days. I thought I would blog while my chicken baked in the over. I eat copious amounts of stir- fry. On any given 5-day work week, I consume the contents of a wok at least 4 of those nights. Sure, any idiot can cook stir-fry. But that's not why I eat so much of it.

I live in a world with limited food options, compared to what those of you in North America might be used to. Most of the fresh vegetables here taste like plastic, especially in the winter. I don't trust a landlocked Slovakia to stock any fish that retains an iota of freshness. And don't get me started on the pork and beef, they're just a scratch above slabs of animal fat. So in my faltering attempts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I am confined to generous portions of chicken and a medley of frozen vegetables. Stir-fry just makes sense.

I live a pretty structured life these days. I hate to be so predictable, but carefully created habits and patterns allow me to make the most of my time. And boy, do I value my time. I usually get groceries on a weekend morning. If I can make it Sunday before the church crowd is relieved from their weekly mass, I consider the day off to a great start. During the course of a typical grocery run, I buy a large number of chicken breasts and then bake them when I get home, as I'm doing now. This saves me the hassle of having to worry about raw chicken going bad and then subsequently cooking it every night in the pan. I feel like baked things might be a little healthier and allow me to use less oil in the pan too. Bonus, or ridiculous justification of my habits?

When these routines of mine are thrown for a loop, I tend to get a little annoyed. I don't think that it's because I'm anti-social, grumpy or overly-obsessive compulsive. It's just that I know I am going to be inconvenienced in a major way during the week if I can't get these auxiliary things, critical to support my highly productive week, done on the weekend. I'm busy as an elf the week before Christmas these days, what with work and all. And that makes me value my time even more.

That's not to say there aren't days where I'm a complete, lazy, piece of trash. You should have seen me yesterday.

Upon reflection, while holding my limited time in high regard allows me to get a lot done, it also has some drawbacks. I very much prefer to do things on my own schedule, - another reason I enjoy working for myself. Working on my own schedule often means opting out of other people's plans. This would perturb me more, if I didn't enjoy working and believe that the rewards at the end would be well worth giving up a few afternoon activities and evening programs. I need to remain conscious of my actions and remember that every once in awhile it would probably do me some good to give in to the whims of one of my peers, because some times I'm surprised at the fun I have or the opportunity my eyes are opened to. As always, it just seems to be about becoming aware of, and striking the right balance.

The Bratislava Video Round-Up

2010-02-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

When I first arrived I looked for videos about the place I all of a sudden found myself in. Here's a few classics to give you an idea of what I'm living through.

I love to hate this place. And I love it a bit, but don't tell anyone.

For all of those who have been wondering at home, yes, Euro Trip was right, re: Winter. And 18-40sec was filmed in my backyard, I'm pretty sure.

I'd say about 70% of the housing looks something like this.

This is a 3:30 video montage of some dudes driving around my immediate hood. It's a bit redundant, but at least watch the first 1:20 sec to get a good idea of what life is like.

Probably the most legit one from the Washington Post, and why girls are skeptical when they hear my native English.

UPDATE: A little long, - I would advise you skip the nice parts - but the most recent and accurate.

UPDATE II: Just watch the first 15 seconds. They really just go after the place.

BEHOLD: Hitohata

2010-02-26T09:40:00.001-08:00

I'm trying something new.

The Little Things

2010-02-25T12:02:00.001-08:00

Sodium-free soy sauce.

English signs to read in idle places.

People that smile and can walk without looking at their feet.

Houses without graffiti on them.

Complete shite weather... Not.

These are the things I miss.

Late Night Patriotism

2010-02-24T17:17:00.000-08:00

It's 3:02 am on a Thursday. But this isn't just any Thursday. Second intermission of the Canada vs. Russia Men's Olympic Hockey Quarterfinal is underway. I can't understand this Slovak commentary so I thought the opportunity to do some late night blogging was a worthy one.

Canada is in the midst of trouncing Russia with a 7-3 lead. It would be heartbreaking to see them blow it; and yet I'm too superstitious to outright declare victory at this point. But score aside, there is one thing that is very cool, that finally made me feel that raw Olympic Spirit. You see, I've been incredibly busy with work, and the 8 hour time difference puts a kink in watching live events, so I haven't been AS enthralled with this contest for ultimate winter athletic dominance as I may have been in the past.

But I'm up now. And boy, am I glad. Not only because I am witness to an unreal game but because - and not to sound like too much of a tech nerd - I did it while on Twitter, connected to a number of my friends who all felt pretty much the same as me. My good pal @amitayer said it best.

Keep in mind, it's three in the morning and I suffer from chronic sleep deprivation on a good day, so sorry if this is a little incoherent.

I need to nap before setting new records of caffeine intake work.

UPDATED:

Back to the Balcony

2010-02-24T10:09:00.001-08:00

The amount of Nutella I consume is ungodly. But that's not what this is about.

For those readers who operate with the Celsius scale, I'm happy to inform you that I am now consistently enjoying double digit temperatures. As an Ottawa native, the notion of persistent positive temperature readings in the month of February is mind-blowing. To those of you that remain trapped in the confines of the frigid 613, I don't mean this personally but: Suck it. Maybe it's cliche to blog about the weather; but quite frankly good sir, I don't give a damn.

While I concede, there may be a brief relapse and even a flurry or two, I declare with certainty that the worst is most definitely over.

Off to the balcony where I will stand in a "fresh white tee" and watch incompetent drivers try to parallel park in spaces far too tight.

BREAKING NEWS: SLOVAKIA GETS COMPUTERS

2010-02-22T12:13:00.001-08:00

Reuters, 19/02/2010, IBM Corporation Signs Three Year, EUR56 Million Agreement With Slovak Ministry Of Finance For Integrated Finance System
Copyright 2010 Reuters. All Rights Reserved.

Date Announced: 20100219

IBM Corporation announced that it has been selected by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic to provide technical assistance services for the design, development and implementation of an intelligent, integrated finance information system for the country. According to the three year, EUR56 million contract signed, IBM will standardize Slovakia's fiscal system by integrating and streamlining existing processes into a unified collection platform. The project will be funded from European Union structural funds and co-financed from the state budget. The project is part of the Slovak government's program to revamp the tax information system; improve communication between taxpayers and the tax authority; and unify the collection of taxes, customs duties and insurance contributions. IBM will undertake the project in several phases: introducing a 'one-stop service'. Taxpayers will be able to perform a variety of tasks using one platform, eliminating duplicate confirmations and forms, and reducing the administrative burden for citizens and companies related to the collection of taxes, customs duties and insurance contributions; enabling integration and communication between various local authorities; and establishing a centralized taxation information platform.

Significant Development ID Number 1825233

Quantify It.

2010-02-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

Ok seriously, this weather is amazing. The sunshine has certainly instilled some pep in my step, so to speak.

Another productive Sunday is well underway. I'm very smily about the whole thing. Sarp, my flatmate, chastised me about being lazy last night, and not going out. It's nice to know my night in evening last wasn't for nothing then. Furthermore, this morning I've realized that he's equally lazy, if not more. As noon slowly encroaches, he has yet to emerge from his bed. To be lazy then, is in the eye of the beholder? By taking it easy last night I'm now leagues ahead of him, as far as "slothing about" goes.

Not that this is some kind of competition.

But that's not what I want to blog about this morning. As I've systematically optimized the exploitation and use of my time in the last few hours, and the weeks leading up such said hours, I've realized my methods have changed slightly. Things are going relatively well right now. So I want to take note of what I'm doing.

I'm an avid agenda user. Those learning skills they teach in grade 6 have provided me with huge ROI, as it turns out. My planner use varies depending on how I'm feeling. It's consistent, always, but sometimes I put dumb things on lists (like cutting my nails, - seriously, I'm a freak) to make me feel more productive. I just love crossing things off lists. I'm sure there's a surge of dopamine associated with the action that drives this neurotic behaviour of mine. At other times I use numbered lists and every now and then I encircle things with highlighters.

So given my regular fluctuation in agenda use patterns, it's realistic to think that I would stumble upon things that work and those that don't. The difficulty seems to be in realizing the effect of my varying habits - can habits vary? Sounds like an oxymoron - and realizing what to keep and what to take out with the trash.

As of late, I've been very specific with my daily to-do lists. I realized that I was failing to get anything done. I kept delaying things to tomorrow. I just wasn't getting shit done. I looked at all of the items I was putting off: They were lofty, ill-defined tasks.

So I did the exact opposite. I changed things from "read" to "read one chapter of book x." Instead of doing research I would get "25 names and numbers of decision makers." I quantified my daily goals. The prompt realization struck me, that I was finally getting things done again. I struck items off my list with ruthless efficiency.

And the benefits multiplied. Not only was I getting more things done, I was better able to structure my time, as I had a very good idea how much time any one of the well-defined task would take. I also noticed that the work I was producing was of higher quality.

Other things I do regularly that seem to work include numbering my giant lists and allocating times.

If you have your own ways, I'd love to hear them. Seriously.

AFTERTHOUGHT:

On a completely unrelated topic, I'm bouncing around a hypothesis in my brain. I don't think it's ripe yet to take fruition from but it involves starting another blog. I think I would be able to muse successfully about starting a business. Specifically the multitude of trials and tribulations that have come along, all in a tongue and cheek manner of course. The biggest reason I want to do it is because I don't think that this is the appropriate forum, yet I have so much to say on the topic. I'll repurpose this little internet space to focus more on my day to day adventures, as well as general personal development. More to come on the subject...

Turning A Corner

2010-02-17T06:05:00.001-08:00

I stepped outside around 3:30pm, Central Eastern European time for a quick walk yesterday. I like to take afternoon breaks to clear my brain from the monotony of being awesome.

I was met with a welcoming glow from the afternoon sun and a balmy breeze. Winter is almost over. If I were to believe the forecast, the temperature is supposed to rise to the double digits next week. Mild weather in late February is something unheard of, for this Canadian. I can't help but feel that I might just be making it through my first winter in this bleak, grey, post-communist world. I'm hesitant to say too much however, lest I jinx myself.

I'm hopeful that this meteorological change foreshadows similar improvements in life and business. With better weather I can't help but feel a spark in my step, and with a better attitude should come better outcomes. I'll keep you updated.

An Open Letter to McDonalds

2010-02-15T02:36:00.001-08:00

Below is a complaint I submitted to McDonalds. Please share any of your experiences.

I recently moved to Slovakia from Canada. I am an extremely avid coffee drinker. I was primarily a Starbucks patron, or Tim Hortons' if circumstances necessitated.

In Slovakia though, McDonalds is the only place to get reliable, fast, and quite frankly delicious coffee (seriously, I was impressed with the quality of your brew). I go every day, multiple times a day (as I mentioned, I'm an AVID consumer).

Usually I drink my coffee black. To be honest, it makes me feel more hardcore than most people, and it's quite tasty (rotting stomach and stained teeth not withstanding). Sometimes I use creamers though, just to mix things up. And man, do your creamers scream "sub-par". Struggling to open that creamer is probably the worst part of my morning, now that I think of it.

I'm not sure if the tab you are meant to pull open was designed as a cruel trick by your supplier, or whether it's years of karmic injustice being consistently unleashed on me in a twisted ploy to even my score with the universe at large, one day at a time. Either way, 19 times out of 20 the excessive vacuum seal of the creamer causes small spurts of the white thick liquid to ejaculate all over my clothes, keyboard and desk when I peal back the aforementioned tab. On the worst of days, the body of the creamer itself breaks in half and spills the entirety of its contents all over my lap.

Please, please, please, do something about this. Even if it just means buying the Tesco brand and using those.

Regards,

Jeffrey

Happy Hallmark Day

2010-02-14T06:38:00.000-08:00

Happy V-Day friends.

Earlier I Skyped with my family. My mom made a remark that got me thinking. She asked if people celebrated Valentine's day over in this part of the world. I hadn't seen much in the days leading up, but I had assumed people did.

I can't be sure though. Asking a Slovak would be the easy answer, but taking hints and cues from my surroundings is another option. And speculation is fun, so let's do it.

I spent most of my day doing completely non-valentine related things; primarily chores and other things required to ensure I have an awesome week. I took a walk this afternoon for a little reprieve, to explore and observe. I was somewhat shocked to see nothing in the way of hearts adorning local stores, not an Eros in sight.

My mom was right. Without Hallmark driving mindless consumerism, the optical assault induced by the ubiquity of Valentine's Day related paraphernalia is negligible. Maybe that's a good thing?

Either way, have a great day!

Own Your Time

2010-02-13T04:29:00.001-08:00

Another productive Saturday. Amazing. Although this time, it's more out of necessity, than anything else. Work is a little (read: hella) hectic right now; so I'm in the office. But at least I'm able to go at my own pace, blogging all the while.

Since this self-employment gig began, my attitude towards work has changed. I'm doing this for me. Sure, I'm trying incredibly hard to serve other people something of value, but I'm only trying so hard to please others because I'm convinced it will translate into more Euros for me. I'm a selfish bastard, at the end of the day. But at least I'm honest about it, unlike you passive-aggressive, conniving, manipulative cretins out there.

Oh how I love the word cretin.

I digress.

At my previous job, I sometimes questioned why I had put myself in such a situation. I mean, it was tedious work, constantly turning tricks for the man. No matter what my monthly salary, hourly wage, or commission structure, I was still enslaved to the 9:00-5:30 routine. If I was hungry at an hour that wasn't lunch time, I was obliged to sneak away from my desk and clandestinely acquire a snack. Or sit unproductively and listen to my stomach growl as I waited out the clock. To overcome the idea that I was making my bosses rich for a measly commission, I scoured my situation for an iota of positive-spin. Even though I was committed to someone else's cause, I found a way to convince myself it was in my own best interest to hustle harder. It has something to do with that 10,000 hour thing.

And now, working for myself, I've realized I can continue to distill value on different levels. While it's mostly about stacking mad scrilla, it can also be about more than that. I know it sounds crazy, but allow me to explain.

A gigantic part of my role at this organization, and at the previous place that was lucky enough to harbor me, is B2B inside sales. That's a fancy way of saying I call people on the phone and sell them my ideas, all neatly packaged into day long events broadcast over the internet. If they think they might like my ides, they purchase the right to listen.

Obviously, I hear the word "no" a lot. Not everyone is THAT enthralled with my INGENIOUS thoughts, believe it or not. "Quel surprise!" The French reader might proclaim, in the most sarcastic of tones. The repetition of that same monosyllabic response can be tiring. Even with the prospect of financial freedom at the end of every conversation it can be tough to self-motivate. Paradoxically, self-motivation is exactly what you need heaps of, if you want to be a boss in this industry.

So I looked for other ways to derive value. Ways that were not to tied to the direct outcome of the call I was making. And now, 9 months or so later, if you give me the name and phone number of just about anyone in the english-speaking world I will have no problem calling them up and pitching them whatever idea or product you might have. I'm getting pretty good at it too. Of course I still have a long way to go, much to learn and more practice ahead of me (and countless rejections), but it's all just a step on developing the extremely transferable, and valuable, skill of being able to close anyone, anywhere, anytime.

So that's my strategy for getting the most out of work. What's yours?

What I'm hearing.

Acclimatization

2010-02-12T10:07:00.001-08:00

This is similar to my last blog post. I would ask you to please forgive the redundancy, but it's my blog, so I'll do what I want.

My uncle is coming to visit me in a few weeks. I'm excited. My family has repeatedly asked me if I need anything from North America. Other than the latest GQ, I haven't been able to think of anything. I don't really need stuff, but I also am becoming more and more capable.

For example, just the other day I finally managed to find sweetener BEZ CUKOR (without sugar), VHODNE PRE DIABETIKOV (suitable for diabetics).

I've finally got my oatmeal just the way I like. It's empowering.

If you don't know why oatmeal is such a big deal, you haven't been reading long enough. Here's some perspective.

Progress

2010-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

I called someone today, as I do most days. You might call it a cold call, in that I'd never spoken to this particular executive before. I do a lot of this.

About 15 seconds into my pitch, he stops me. He says "Hey hey hey, Jeff, you call me up like you're my best friend but I don't even think we've met before."

My first days in this line of work, I used to secretly wish that people wouldn't pick up when I called. When they did, I would stutter like crazy.

So I guess I've made progress?

Like those calls, this particular one didn't yield any direct results.

Baby steps.

[A]Typical Sunday

2010-02-07T06:46:00.000-08:00

I've been going to the bar less, as of late. I think it's good for my liver, not to mention numerous other aspects of my life. I've predominantly limited my social galavanting to one day a week. Just enough to break the cycle. I can sacrifice one night and the subsequent day to binge drinking, if it means a break from the regular tension of life on the daily. I'm ensuring my own mental stability, really.

The thing is, I have quite started to enjoy these weekend days that result from not being excessively liquored-up the night before. For example, I awoke today at 8:00 am, with a clear mind and a day that stretched out in front of me for what felt like forever. It's 3:48 pm, by the standards of most mortals I have already conquered the world, despite moving at a relaxed pace and drinking copious amounts and varieties of tea. I feel productive and my hope is that the productivity will continue, like that annoying Lamb Chops song that never ended. My hope is quickly reinforced with productive action, so I'm justifiably confident in my hopeful prediction. Action is key, after all.

One of the many things I got up to this morning was hitting up the grocery store. It's important that I make it before noon, to avoid the after-church-crowd and the chicken famine that ensues after their ransacking of the local Billa . And don't get me started on submitting to the low-quality pork, the only other real meat option available, for my weekly culinary fodder. My grocery bill is fairly consistent from one week to the next, another sign that my lifestyle here is getting more comfortable, or stagnant, if you want to look at the other side of the coin. My real point though is this: There are no cars out on the street. This isn't limited to one rogue trip to the local supermarket. As I mentioned, the limitations on my binge behaviour have been more encompassing and longitudinal. It's something I've been observing and pondering quietly over the last few weeks. The city is a ghost town on the weekends.

When I was in Canada, people were always doing errands on the two days that start with "S". Whether it was running (obviously not actually running - driving fast) to the mall to consume things, take their kids to hockey practice or one of one hundred other things, people were doing stuff. And using their cars to get from A to B. Throughout the Slovak summer, there were also always people about. But now that I think about it, most were just walking around and enjoying the nice weather. Wintertime must keep these supermodels cooped up, leaving the streets barren, much to my chagrin.

I wonder if kids don't have as many extra curricular obligations in this part of the world? Are soccer moms here less intense? I could see this lack of activities keeping parents from scurrying from arena to ballet school, or what have you. Maybe after church, families spend time together. Maybe they go to grandma's house for the afternoon to drink tea and keep from frolicking in the city streets. Maybe nobody has the cashflow to mindlessly consume at local shops. I'll keep thinking about why this might be but wanted to give you a quick heads-up to something that is awry.

Music for your Sunday morning.

I'm going to sleep through my first Super Bowl tonight. I hope the Colts dominate and the game is complete shit. Ok, I'm just jealous - enjoy the show EST friends.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Visits to Dreamland

2010-02-02T02:41:00.000-08:00

I've always hated sleep. For as long as I can remember, I've sucked at it. I'm poor at sleeping in and I'm worse at going to bed on time. I'm easily distracted and entertained, so lying down and closing my eyes isn't perceived as all that valuable.

On the theme of alignment though, I've decided to give this sleep notion a little more attention. Sure, I can wake up at 5:00 an and drink 8 cups of coffee before noon; in fact, I regularly do just that. I feel like I'm quite productive in my current routine. But I would be remiss not to examine other ways of doing things. Is it worth keeping some type of sleep journal, recording mood and sleeping patterns? How do I accurately determine the optimal amount of rest I need?

Either way, at the probing of a friend I've done some reading into the ill-effects of sleeplessness. I think a good first step is to educate myself about the real consequences of chronic sleep deprivation. Knowing what I have to lose will allow me to accurately prioritize my visits to dreamland.

UPDATE: How well do YOU sleep?

Applied Science

2010-01-30T03:14:00.001-08:00

I was taking out the garbage today. Sarp must have thrown out some fish or something. It stank.

The smaller elevator arrived first. I was in a rush so I took it. Within seconds it stunk. I tried not to gag. It was unbearable. I thought about diffusion.

I remember being happy it was winter, the cold was helping keep the odor from laying siege to my scent receptors at top pace. And at least this elevator was faster than the big one. My mind wandered. I thought of a thousand scenarios in which the rank-smelling ester particles from the bag of trash impacted me more or less intensely, depending on the circumstances. I thought about a big elevator at the North Pole and a tiny elevator in Cairo in July. A few key factors like elevator size, speed, and temperature could drastically change my experience.

In third year physical biochemistry we learned about diffusion. How particles randomly disperse around the container they're in (in this case elevator). The intensity of the scent is related to the concentration of the scent producing particles in a given space. At one point our prof vaguely alluded to pizza being delivered, and how everyone "Tucan Sam's" their way to the kitchen. The garbage and elevator scenario is the same thing. Either way, I like education, - and I remember it the most - when it's directly applicable to situations in my life. It's all a matter of how the math is framed, I guess. If it will get me out of a stinky situation it might be just worth solving!

Alignment

2010-01-25T10:43:00.001-08:00

I haven't blogged for awhile because I've been busy. It's the weekend now though, and while my schedule is still packed tighter than the cotton at the top of a bottle of Advil Cold and Sinus I have managed to find a way to breathe clearly, so to speak. I have been busy with work, the story goes. I'm trying hard to be awesome at it. Every week I'm making progress, I should do well if I can keep that up.

Recently, I've realized that to be awesome at work, I have to be awesome at a bunch of other things.

You see it's not JUST about working hard. It's about being awesome in the most encompassing of manners. It's about ironing my clothes on the weekend so that I look sharp all week. It means buying healthy groceries and preparing food properly so that I can sustain myself in a healthy manner. It demands exercising and trying to sleep right (the latter being a major challenge for me, generally speaking). To be truly great (whatever that means) I don't think you can be good at just one thing. I think life needs to become a sort of positive feedback machine, where everything you do makes up a framework that allows you to best accomplish your goals, whatever they may be. It's about creating a successful lifestyle. It's about alignment. It's why I believe that Gary Johnson is the most compelling candidates for Presidential Election (honestly watch the first 2 minutes and tell me you don't think the same, the guy exudes character and integrity). And it's because everything he does is underscored by awesomeness. By ambition, passion and solid logic.

Now to write another blog post for the middle of the week when I don't have time to write; all to appear awesome at writing, of course.

Impressionism

2010-01-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

First impressions matter so much. I blogged about something similar to this previously, I’m going to take this quiet Saturday evening to elaborate, however.

Over the holiday I had the good fortune of spending a lot of time in Toronto, what that meant was that I had the less fortunate experience of spending a lot of time on Via Rail trains. One particular trip comes to mind.

I sat down beside a girl similar in age to myself. I was in the mood to read, I had got myself excited about the idea of trying to do something semi-productive during the four hours of sitting that were to ensue. In my bag I had a book on evolution I had so graciously received from my friend Erin, as well as the January issue of GQ, featuring a topless Rihanna on the cover.

Maybe it was because my train was passing through Kingston and the specters of scholars-past haunted me. It could have also been the conservative demeanor of the person in the neighboring seat (first impressions, again). Whatever the reason, I opted for the Richard Dawkins work. Almost immediately, the young-lady sitting to my left asked me if I was an atheist. Talk about cutting to the chase! By pulling out this book, I had managed to forego hours of small talk. Conveniently, I hate small talk. I must have appeared somewhat educated, delving into a book with a decidedly scientific basis. The lively discussion that ensued over the next three and a half hours covered everything from evolution, to the biblical story of creation to life aspirations, to plans in Toronto. It was pretty intense for a train ride.

I can’t help but feel that this random peer would not have been nearly as interested in my opinions had I opted for the men’s magazine. On the other hand, had someone different been sitting beside me, maybe the GQ would have been the more appropriate choice.

Be aware of your surroundings, and act [or present yourself] accordingly.

It's All The Same

2010-01-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Here's a better link http://issuu.com/konekt/docs/issue2
My prose is featured on page 64 of the magazine, and 66-67 when you're navigating pages. Confusing.

I couldn't find it online, so I uploaded my second article for Konekt Magazine . Big thanks again to @matthewlombardi for getting me involved with the project.

It’s All the Same: A Verbal Venn Diagram.
These days, I’m plagued by what ifs. What if I had skipped that lecture? What if I had not applied for the job I now have? What if I didn’t live in Slovakia? What if I didn’t go out that night and meet that girl? Funny how a series of seemingly small choices can have such profound effects down the road. None of it matters though. All we can do is accept what has happened and keep moving forward. It’s October, currently. I never realized how important October was, until right now. For a few confounding reasons the thirty days occurring about 1.5 weeks after the fall equinox are extremely interesting to me. I never realized it until I left school. Despite how painfully obvious it is. October is like the annual slingshot of my life. It’s the new January. Firing me around for another 365-day period. The point where I get to slam Jagger shots and dress up like an Ugg Boot or Shawarma is just a convenient perk, in the big picture.

Ok maybe it’s an exaggeration to say it fuels my entire year, but it makes sense to a degree. Summer is obviously “Lax-Town USA” for 95% percent of the student population. At least it was for me. And things are changing in September, sure. But that’s the obvious answer. You finish work, say good-bye to your parents (who by now you are sick of) and escape to a life of freedom and low quality food. But hold on. Let’s be real here: September is a joke. No real work gets done. There are lame attempts, and ambitious resolutions, but those quickly crumble in the face of the weakest forms of peer pressure. Not until the haze of homecoming has risen, do you find yourself a little more underprepared than you would be comfortable with. Intimidating midterms stand looming. Shit is getting serious. It’s October, all of a sudden.

September is nothing more than a summer hangover, when you think about it. In the real world I’m permanently confined to desk space, I burn time lamenting the long days recently gone by. Facebook status updates and tweets from friends all over the world make me jealous of all those kids who just moved back to Kingston. Officemates, like classmates, have just returned from fabulous expeditions to new corners of the globe and while they may be clocking face time at their respective responsibilities, they generally all do a lackluster job as their brains linger in bygone hot spots.

And then it just sort of happens. You wake up. Maybe it’s a Sunday. You slept in because it’s a little darker than usual. It’s probably drizzling. Outside, you feel under-dressed. Puddles linger. Perhaps an insufficient sun struggles vainly to see through its obligation in the water cycle. “-But that sun has more that sufficed since the previous solstice!” You delude yourself, before scornfully spiting the deceptive golden orb. A few wet leaves stick to your left shoe. You feel cheated. The wind cuts through your cardigan. If you don’t have a cold, you’re about to catch one. Summer, and the associated pipe dreams, is over.

Too much of my summer was “squandered” on patios watching supermodels in 6-inch heels and 6-inch skirts, navigate the neglected cobblestone street next to any one of my favourite terraces. I find myself needing to reflect and think on where I’ve come and what I’ve been through these last few months. Octobers cool embrace encourages such forays of thought and logic. I also start drinking lots of tea, which is probably better than the garbage I usually consume. It’s as though during the green bloom of summer, I’m held hostage by a latent sense of excess. There’s no need to reap my harvest. For whatever reason, I am trapped in this paralytic mental state until the world around me starts to physically change. Confronted with falling leaves and that bitter taste in the air, only then, am I shocked into action, impressed with a sense of urgency, as the annual catharsis that is autumn begins to bear down. I’m both the ant and the grasshopper, if you know what I mean.

I admit this is obvious. As autumn encroaches the weather starts to suck, so naturally, I’m more adverse to the outdoors. Avoid wet socks at all costs, I say. The months of September through June are the time to get things done. We’re all conditioned into this from a young age. September, naturally, is the comfortable buffer. It’s just that it wasn’t until this year that I had the personal experience to confirm the case outside of academia. Of course the boundary is a little bit less defined in this case, but the currents under the surface still operate in the same manner.

Although I’m halfway across the world fully engaged in the rat race, memories of a year ago remain fresh. One of the weekly bright spots on my fall calendar, while I ran out the clock on my penultimate undergraduate semester, was a three-hour seminar each Thursday afternoon. That I looked forward to it was particularly odd, being someone who generally deplores lecture as a boring inefficient waste of time (I don’t maintain that’s the right view, just the one I stubbornly harbored). With only a dozen or so classmates, it was by far the smallest university class in which I partook. To make matters better, two professors were on hand. They each excitedly encouraged discussion and inspiration, by sharing their own dreams, trials and tribulations. Our motley crew formed a unique, albeit odd, bond, rather quickly. It makes sense I guess. Our group had all suffered through three and a half years of rigorous undergraduate studies at a very reputable institution. 118th in the world, as of 2009, thank you very much. After so much effort, we could taste victory. The light at the end of the tunnel danced just beyond the edges of our outstretched fingertips.

Like it was a chronic case of extreme psoriasis in the middle of my back, I squirmed for freedom. Everyone did, some felt the need to pretend that they had their act together, but we were all uncomfortable on some level when the notion of the future was brought up, as it so often was. Few of us knew what exactly that fabled next step would be. Even the biggest keeners had yet to hear back from professional and graduate programs. A dash of uncertainty was added to the back of my mind in every situation. Everyone could sense change around the next bend. We were all smart and capable. We had worked extremely hard for the past four years. Day in and day out we locked down in the library; where we read textbooks, lecture notes, journal publications and the occasional crossword. Working hard kept us grounded in the present. It gave us confidence. We knew enough that we would probably keep our heads above water when sink or swim time eventually came around, but we’d be lucky not to catch a wave or two in the mouth while we doggy paddled about, trying to find our way. And you know how nasty that salt-water shit tastes.

I remember with high-res photographic accuracy, a single bullet point made by one of my two instructors. The gist of the life changing statement was: By the very nature of science, precise measurement, extreme attention to detail, and complicated procedures with strange instruments, scientific research is riddled with failure. Experiments fail 19 times out of 20. You clutch your lab book with white knuckles, trying to tear it in half, finally slamming it back on the bench. Your crystals didn’t nucleate. Or your protein sample is contaminated. Frustration overwhelms, easily. But you are obliged to endure it, if you ever want to win.

Suffice it to say: I hate losing. I have always hated losing. That day, I made a conscious choice. In retrospect, it might have been a cop-out but I don’t think so. I decided I would not toil the rest of my life away with fickle experimentation. Maybe I should have reflected on it more then. But reeking of yeast, waiting for another round of test tubes to finish another turn in the centrifuge was the not the way forward, I reasoned. Unfortunately for me, my sage instructor, and ultimately the one who drove the final nail into the nail-ridden coffin that was my potential scientific research career, forgot to mention a corollary that would end up causing me a lot of trouble.

This is another one of those HD photographic moments etched into the back of my eyelids. It makes me wonder what other negatives are waiting to be developed into insights in the darkroom that is my brain. Fast-forward to June 2009: Sorry to be jumping all over the place. My brain is spastic like that. In my pursuit of anything but more frustrating laboratory time, I’m now a ninja of the Bratislava public transport system, riding bus #61 solo at 9:15am on a Sunday, on the way back to my flat.

ASIDE: In case you didn’t catch that, check out how I can say flat now, in lieu of apartment. Now that I’m “Euro-ballin’” I’m also able to say mobile, over even abbreviate to “mobes.” without feeling like a complete cretin. I find a disturbing amount of satisfaction in these absurdly miniscule perks.

Anyways, the reason I’m up so early on this shitty bus is because I just dropped my friend Amit off at the airport. He’s been my first visitor and it really forced me to think about and contrast my life as a student with my current life in post-communist hilarity. Things haven’t changed that much. We got home from the bar, admittedly a little later than usual, at 7:15am. Being one to miss planes rather frequently, it was not until shortly after our morning arrival that Amit realized his flight was to depart at 10:00am, not 10:00pm. It was a hot mess. We scrambled. The travel gods must have been smiling however, as we delivered him to the proper terminal at an appropriate time. Now I’m feeling pretty alone, not to mention that nauseating state between “LiquorMcPissyFaced” and worst-hangover-of-life. Then my bus rolls by the local IKEA. I feel mocked: Through some vicious twist of fate, haunting visions of cheap beds and DIY storage solutions are the only reminders of the last 21 years of my life. Thanks, cruel world.

A minute ago I said I hated losing and I didn’t want to be a scientist. My Prof. had told me that science is about losing, 95% of the time. Kenny Powers wouldn’t accept that, so why should I? If you don’t know who Kenny Powers is, I’m glad we’re not friends. It’s in that vein that I ended up in Eastern Europe. Instead of cramping my hand with endless pipette work, I decided to try my hand at a Sales job.

Yeah, sales won’t involve failure. You idiot.

If you want to be technical about it, my employment is more of a business development role. Effectively though, I sell people on why they want to do business with my firm. I’m not convincing people to purchase recession-proof iPods, as evidenced by soaring Apple stock, or the latest Avon product; I’m selling intangible ideas and services. It’s not easy. For the most part I have fun though. I deal with people, instead of bacterial DNA. That’s a good start. I talk to executives and scientists about what kind of work is happening in their lab, and where they’re faltering. I talk to them about how we might be able to help. Well, that’s what I do on a good day.

Sorry to draw a line in the sand like this; but, if your IQ is anywhere North of 76 you might have already concluded that starting a job in sales because I was afraid of failure was a faulty, not to mention incredibly naïve, jump of logic, on my part. Allow me the privilege of painting you a picture, please. On a daily basis I get hung up on more than you have in your life. I am the recipient of an avalanche of “Ari Gold-esque” tirades. People tell me off, on the regular. I have heard “no” and infinite variations on the theme, so many times that I now dare people to hang up on me. I make simple mistakes and I falter in the most creative of ways. Despite tedious preparation and practice, I fail consistently.

So that’s it. That was the part I was destined to learn on my own; the corollary that my wise professor glossed over. It took the particularly ruthless and ubiquitous failure at the very start of my newfound sales career to remind me, in a quick and brutal manner no less, of the lesson I had tried so dramatically to avoid. Failure is not just a part of scientific research, but an inescapable part of my life, as it turns out. To be successful in science, is the same as in anything: I must patiently persist. I must endure. Success in the lab is no different from cold calling. It is not about winning the lottery or pulling a golden ticket out of a chocolate bar wrapper you bought on a whim because there is some big contest to tour a factory and your grandpa gave you a dollar for your birthday; no, success is about tirelessly pursuing something you love. It’s not a new idea. Nor is it a particularly flashy one. Sorry if you were hoping for a silver bullet solution. If, by chance, you ever do find one such bullet, hit me up with it at jeffreyhwaite@gmail.com, but I won’t hold my breath. Each attempt, each grasp at success is an experiment. I now know through brutal experience that the only way I’m going to accomplish anything worth tooting a horn about (I hate that expression, by the way) is by tirelessly pursuing the elusive green light on the dock across the bay that that Gatsby dude was so obsessed with.

Trust me on this one, I moved half-way across the world to try and find a loophole, but I’ve only been further reassured that everything is the same –Plus or minus a little twist based on the intrinsic nature of what it is you’re trying to master, and where the flames you are dancing in, happen to be located. I must make it my habit to pursue failure intelligently, with enthusiasm and curiosity. I’m afraid it’s the only way I’ll make something of myself. And don’t get me started on how afraid I am of not making anything of myself. (Again, think Gatsby). If you want to bring it back to the most old-school level, check what homeboy Aristotle was caught saying “We are what we repeatedly do, excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” I would go on to say then that it is our habits, which provide the true barometer of one’s character. Real insight into a person is gleamed when we emphasize their actions, above their carefully selected words.

If your ambition is ripe and you are serious about success, hold a mirror up to your life. The great thing about mirrors is that they are objective. They don’t lie. It is worth reflecting on where you have been and what you’ve picked up along the way. It’s important to understand what tools you have developed and which ones are now at your disposal. Maybe, it’s even worth speculating about the “What ifs.” But at the end of the day, and this has been the toughest lesson for me, whatever you situation: It is what it is. The past is done. I live in a place where 24-hour grocery stores and pre made salad kits don’t exist. In their place I have barbed wire fences, crumbling derelict buildings and real live whorehouses. Stop dreaming about what could have been and move forward. If you are at all interested in advancing your swagger, becoming the Picasso of your chosen trade, you must come to terms with your situation and decide how best you can leverage it with your personal box of tools. Enslave yourself to good habits and the pinnacle of your potential is within reach. Everyday I need to do as Thomas Friedman described Governor Suebu of Guinea “Think Big. Act Small. Start Now.”

What’s your next move gong to be, chief?

Subtleties.

2010-01-19T10:05:00.001-08:00

I enjoy most things Machiavellian. I appreciate that the world works in peculiar ways, but that there are a complex set of rules or laws that govern these peculiarities. Increasingly, I believe that we are best served to learn and exploit these rules.

One of the common themes that continues to emerge in reading such literature is that while people try desperately to practice deceit, they often betray themselves. By paying attention to actions, details and subtleties we can often catch people in their lies. The truth comes out not in a great declaration of integrity and valor but how an individual acts before, during and after such a statement.

I was reading my all-too-neglected Slovak language book . There's a page of modest flattery at the beginning of the book providing cultural and historical context about Slovakia.

In looking at my surroundings, I can't help but feel that the content of the book is much more revealing with regards to culture and history than any number of eloquent paragraphs strung together to convey that very information. I'll exemplify what I mean by sharing with you some lines of dialogue from Chapter 2 (translated into English of course. And let's ignore the fact that after 8 months here I'm still only on Chapter 2):

The conversation is between an old man (Kovac) sitting on his porch and his young neighbour
...
Evicka:I'm playing. And what are you doing, Mr. Kovac?
Kovac: I'm smoking and waiting for lunch.
Evicka: Where is Mrs. Kovacova?
Kovac: She's at home. She's cooking lunch, you know.

Ramble Ramble Ramble

2010-01-17T01:06:00.000-08:00

Another early start to a weekend day. What's happening to me? Maybe I'm developing good habits. I mean good in the "not self-destructive" sense of the word. More to come on that later, my thoughts on that need to simmer a little longer.

I'm up being awesome again though, so not all bad.

I was reading Babylon once more. It's great stuff and you should definitely check it out if you have any desire to stack dollar bills. If you don't have any such inclination stop reading this blog right now, for we have nothing in common and surely you will struggle to relate to this subject matter.

I digress.

In the latest chapter, our friend Akrad (The richest dude in this ancient city) tells us to be wary of who we entrust our money to. Seems like a good lesson, especially given the prevalence of Ponzi schemes these days. Are those 30-40% returns every year really sustainable? Do your due diligence folks. Remember when I said I liked overlap? That's the reason I think this is blogworthy. I read something similar from my boy Rob. He talks about being careful who you take advice from. Seems sensible, no?

Off to eat some oatmeal.

An Adult Saturday

2010-01-16T00:06:00.000-08:00

I find myself in an interesting situation. I feel like a real person. Like my mom might feel on any given Saturday - not to say that my dearest mother leads a dull life, quite the contrary! It's just funny that I am perplexed at not being a hungover piece of shit right now.

It started yesterday, after a busy week getting back into the swing of things at work, I decided a nap was in order. I watched Episode 7 of Jersey Shore in my bed before succumbing to slumber around 7:00pm.

I always wake up before my alarm. I'm a terrible sleeper. I like being awake too much. I assumed my natural urge to dummy bottles of cheap pear brandy would arouse me when the time felt right (the pear one is my favourite, by the way). I didn't set an alarm.

At 1:00am I found myself in the grips of a confused daze. My Friday night effectively poleaxed. I ate some stir-fry and watched the two most recent episodes of 30 Rock; squinting the entire time, as though the dim range light that hovered above my wok is the 7:00pm sun assaulting my retinas through a windshield as I idle in a never-ending snake of a traffic jam. I crawled back to my bed.

This morning, nearly 12 hours of sleep later I'm up, drinking coffee, listening to Dispatch and crossing items off my to do list with ruthless efficiency. I'm off to run some errands. I'm going to buy a new memory card for my camera (current is broken) and take pictures of communist hilarity to try and give you a feel for this Eastern-European-winter vibe.

A Note on Babylon

2010-01-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

I'm re-reading a book my dad got me a few years ago. "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S. Clason. I read it on the 2 and a half hour Christmas drive to my grandparents house.

I obviously didn't absorb it all, but I knew it was important and something I should come back to.

I recommend it. A quick read worth more than it's weight, no doubt.

Back to hustling.

Accept Reality

2010-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

I awoke an hour before my alarm again. I think my sleep cycle is well on the way to resetting itself though. But that's not what I'm here to talk about today. I'm here to talk about the way things are.

I'm obsessed with success. I think it's the effect of listening to so much rap music. Anyways, in pursuit of success, I read a lot. I read a lot about how to be successful and how the world works. I believe there are fundamental things we can do to increase our chances of winning. And life is all about chances and odds, if you ask me. When I find overlap in these "success fundamentals" from different authors that I respect I generally get pretty excited. I can't help but feel that I'm on to something big.

I stumbled across one such overlap yesterday. It was especially surprising because it was overlap between two of my favourite, but very juxtaposed people. The first, Iceberg Slim says:

'"Chumps prefer a beautiful lie to an ugly truth."The sucker wants to believe certain things about life and so projects these wishes on to the real world, seeing what he wants to see, not what is. A hustler thrives on reality, ugly or unpleasant - finds his poetry in the real. He sees the whole table and plays it as it lays.'

And secondly, Gary Johnson says:

"Become reality Driven, Don't kid yourself or others. Find out what's what and base your decisions and actions on that.'

ASIDE: For the full list of Johnsons 7 principles of good government, which I'm trying my best to live by click here.

So I think it's obvious. Critically and objectively evaluate your situation or you will continue to delude yourself about who you are and what you are capable of.

And that was my 200th Blog post. I'm glad I've kept with this. Thanks for reading along

Collar Policy

2010-01-12T04:33:00.000-08:00

I think the day has finally come. Ok, it might have come and gone a long time ago but I was oblivious until recently. A brief Twitter poll concluded my sneaking suspicions. I need to revise my collar policy.

I'm not sure why but being a student gave me this sense of entitlement. Why should the collar of my polo lay flat against my shoulders when it can stand proud encircling my nape? That erect piece of fabric stood for so much, and hinted at the tinderbox of charisma that lay hidden underneath a light cotton weave. It differentiated me from the other biochemists.

One quick pivot of the head and I could poke your eye out with the heavily starched weapon of cloth I brandished around my neck.

I'm not a student anymore. And my eventual return to academia will see me wearing suits and looking sharp as hell. Something has gotta give. I can't walk around anymore projecting a completely care free, fun demeanor. I'm serious these days, it's all about business. I'm a young professional now.

As such, my attire on the daily is monopolized by dress pants and proper shirts, even the occasional tie. Polos have been ebbed out of my standard rotation and reserved for weekends around the house juxtaposing baggy, gray sweat pants. In this instance, I think the popped collar is insignificant. It's just me around the crib anyways. Another occasion in which a polo might have a popped collar is if I'm wearing a sweater or zip-up with a collar. Then it's only natural. Outside the house however, a completely different story is inscribed on the metaphorical wall. From this point on, my collar will be folded down, marking the end of a hilarious era, in accordance with the conformity of society.

My charisma will find a new way to express itself.

PS Can you believe this was blog post #199?

BACK IN THE GAME

2010-01-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

It's 4am Monday morning. I've been awake for 1.5 hours. I don't know if it's because I'm starving, excited to work, travel-fatigue related or a combination of the above. I decided to just get my day started rather than toss and turn in the pursuit of elusive slumber.

It's obvious that I've taken a holiday hiatus from this here blog. Combined with some router compatibility problems at home, the shock of being in a fully industrialized country and general family and friend fun kept me from fulfilling the need to opine on these here internets.

BUT IM BACK.

It's 2010 and I need to start acting like it. I'm going to run with the excited about work reason for this bout of insomnia. I'll try to post short frequent blogs in the coming days. I had insane flight trouble that delayed my return. I'm feeling focused and ready to make things happen.

Moving Forward; Looking Back.

2009-12-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

I leave in little more than 36 hours. It can't come fast enough. The more I've reminded myself about the luxuries of home, the more I've longed for it. That's not what this is about though.

* * *

The other day I caught myself crossing a one-way street. And I immediately knew I was familiar in my surroundings. I've always nurtured the idea that one-way streets are a barometer of sorts. Gauging how acclimatized one is to the particular locale. It's like this: If you watch someone cross a one-way street and they look both ways, they're not that comfortable in their surroundings. It's when your strides have become precipitous, when the sleet and wind inflame your desire to get home and your foot boldly leaves the curb, as you glance to the right, and only to the right, that you know you're at home in the neighborhood. My shoulders shrugged, as I tried my hardest to make my pea coat hide the exposed skin on my cheeks. I strode brazenly into the roadway without a thought of turning to the left. It was a one-way street and I knew it, I didn't consciously think about looking both ways, I just wanted to get home as fast as possible and I knew it. The moment of self-realization came a few steps into the road.

In the 8 months that I've been here, a lot has changed and a lot has remained the same. It has been a lot of fun, and a lot of things I can best describe as the exact opposite of fun. To say I’m more able to get around than when I first arrived is an under statement of the highest order. Upon my delivery to this backwards-ass land some 32 weeks ago I was paraplegic-style immobile. I couldn’t get anywhere without all kinds of help. If I did arrive somewhere, I didn’t know how to get what I wanted. Now I’m a ninja of the public transport system and have explored the city in its near entirety on foot. I have always liked walking and exploring and I think that will remain constant wherever I end up.

I was naïve and optimistic, in the extreme. I was giving out benefit of the doubt like it was candy and I was Willy Wonka himself, on Halloween, no less. I’ve since learned that not everyone in the world deserves my immediate trust. There are a lot of blatant imbeciles, or gypsies, as the case may be, who are ready to take advantage of anyone at the next turn. I look over my shoulder now more than ever, even though this city seems incredibly safe.

The lesson has been cemented that people are products of their environment. Nobody smiles here, but when I read about the history and culture I begin to understand why. It’s not up to me to judge anyone; I should be more understanding of where they have come from and what they have gone through.

I started a job at which I had no clue. I was afraid to talk on the phone, I would pray for voicemails to pick up, and when I did talk to someone my voice shook and stuttered in embarrassing ways. Now I’m willing to talk to anyone about anything any where in the world. And I’m getting pretty good at it. Good enough in fact that I left the job I came here for and started my own company.

I couldn’t ask people for anything. I was afraid to speak out for fear of sounding stupid. Then I got hungry and needed to order food. It was one small failure after another but I made progress and tried to keep smiling throughout. One day I went to McDonalds and managed to complete the whole transaction in one smooth exchange of Slovak phrases. Victory. At last.

I’m not sure what the next 8 months will hold. Probably more of the same risk taking. My role can only be to calculate the odds as best as possible. I’m pumped about work. I want it to succeed like any other project I’ve undertaken. I reject the notion of failure and embrace the challenge. Victory earned is the only kind worthy of celebration, if you ask me. I’ve thought a lot about priorities and hopefully I can continue to apply that knowledge. I want to do more traveling in 2010, although I’ve been lucky enough to explore Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Austria already. I am remiss I haven’t yet made it to the Eastern mystery that is Ukraine. I'm excited for Western Europe, the Balkans and Turkey.

At the end of it all, no matter what happens, and regardless of what has already happened, this whole stupid foray into Eastern Europe has been an incredible learning experience. For that reason I’m happy to say that I would be stupid to
regret any of it. I’m glad I wasn’t sitting at home doing the same thing. I really am giving it a shot, so to speak.

In the immediate future, which I'm currently enamored with, I excitedly await the amenities of the developed world, not to mention my family and friends, both of which are amazing and whom I struggle on the daily, to get by without.

Getting It Done

2009-12-03T08:43:00.001-08:00

I'm still not blogging as regularly as I'd like to be. In fact this post has marinated as a draft a few times, before I have now finally managed to hammer it out. It's like this: I have all this great prose, bottled up in my brain. Unlucky for you, loyal reader, I don't have the hours in the day to put it down on this here web-log. I've been busy as hell, working ungodly hours, to the neglect of my sleep cycle and my diet. It's all in the interest of what my boy "Bloggeries" calls passive income. I think that makes it worth it. I'm enjoying myself too, which is important and makes the whole experience much more bearable.

Anywho, I've finally thrown on some Vince Guaraldi Trio and plunked myself down with a glass (read: bottle) of cheap Merlot (all liquor is cheap here, by the way) and taken some time to reflect on the last few months. On one hand, I feel like I've climbed a mountain; on the other, I think I just arrived at base camp of a much bigger mountain.

Allow me to elaborate, please. We started to plot our business, Kakushin Group, almost two months ago. As I mentioned, it was conceived over pints of draught on the back of bar room napkins. The very conception of the project could be subject of another post, so I’ll table it for now. Suffice it to say, the upside looked very promising, while the downside looked negligible. In short, I had very little to lose. I think that a good risk to reward ratio is something that should underscore every decision I make, be it a stock trade or a night at the bar. “I don’t believe in luck, I believe in odds.” Said Seth Davis at the beginning of Boiler Room.

So we set out, hell bent on starting a business, all the while not really having an idea how to start a business, -let alone in Slovakia. Yet, for reasons of which I’m unaware, I maintained an optimistic demeanor and an irrational belief that we could accomplish anything. I think this has also been paramount to making it as far as we have. I don’t know how to make a website, produce a business information event, or deal with the slow as molasses Slovak bureaucracy. Somehow, 8 short weeks later, we have all of the above and are on our way to new challenges, specifically selling, something I do know how to do.

The point I’m trying to distill here is this, we could have gawked, worried and procrastinated at the formidable task ahead of us. Instead, we thought about what we needed to do and found ways to do it. There have been innumerable twists along the path we've bushwhacked so far, we’ve had to come up with some unorthodox solutions but up to this point, we’ve managed to get shit done.

And so, it is the base camp analogy that rings true. It has been excruciatingly difficult, lugging our shit this far, throwing up our metaphorical tents and canvassing for the best available Sherpas. But it has already been extremely rewarding. And tomorrow, we push for the summit, where the majestic view will no doubt be worth the ascent.

On a completely unrelated note:

I’m going home in a week for the holidays. Words cannot describe my excitement. I have nightmares that I’m going to catch swine flu and be barred from boarding the aircraft.

Next I will post an 8 month recap of my life in Slovakia and try to throw some darts at the wall to pin down where I think it might be going – at which point I encourage you to stay tuned reading along, to see how I’ll inevitably be hilariously wrong. I've always sucked at darts.

A Note About Dress

2009-11-28T03:28:00.001-08:00

Ahhh to be free. Once again able to blog about whatever I please.

I went out last night, for the first time in a month. I understand once again the notion of tolerance. Or my lack thereof. I awoke after a very brief sleep feeling quite well, to my surprise and delight. I drank some coffee, put on sweat pants and waded through the streets to the office, taking my usual route. I hate sitting all day so I try to walk to and from work, as the weather has made it quite bearable. It also gives me time to think.

I was struck by insight not far from my office. Although I had showered and brushed my teeth, I was still clad in extra baggy gray sweatpants and my hair fairly matted. Aside from the odd glare of contempt, I went largely unnoticed on my way to the office, ducking and weaving between giant concrete blocks. I try to catch peoples eyes, but today was, generally speaking, one unmet glance after another.

During the week, I try to look sharp. I think I catch more glances. I think I go more noticed. Maybe people are daydreaming on the weekend, window shopping for watches with egregious price tags. Not interested in a rogue passerby. I'm willing to say though that the more raggedy said passerby looks, the more likely he or she is to get glossed over.

Be conspicuous.

Off to press my pants and shine my shoes.

Casual Fridays are bullshit, if you ask me.

The Kakushin Story

2009-11-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

Trusted readers, I've been lying to you for the last 8 weeks. This has been a long time coming.

The beginning:

It was about two months ago, a warm October afternoon: I flicked my wrist, releasing the metaphorical white towel into the air, before it flopped down on the canvas floor. My job wasn't going the direction I had hoped. I had learned a lot and it was a positive experience, overall. I just wanted something else. I closed the door on my days slanging pharmaceutical knowledge solutions. I didn't know exactly what I was doing, but it felt right.

I hadn't given much thought to what I wanted to do. It's just not my style, I guess. I needed some time to think. I had a few options on the table but they all proved far from what the truth would end up being. Looking back, I had jumped on an Air France flight to Slovakia, right after graduating, with much less rational thought than the average person might have thought necessary. And yet, no regrets. But 6 months later, I needed a change. I've always had something of a short attention span. I'm easily amused, but easily distracted.

Unemployment was awesome, for the first week. My phone broke and I started getting really bored, really fast. Raoul, the guy who was previously my direct boss had also recently quit. He sent me an e-mail. We met up when he was in town. A few beers later, pipe dreams were beginning to materialize on bar room napkins. One thing led to another, and we sort of ran with an idea. Having nothing on my plate, I immersed myself in the project, half-believing it wasn't actually happening.

Two months later, and with the full support of my fantastic family, I find myself in my own office with two of the people I most enjoyed working with - we recruited another former colleague who ended up quitting shortly after we did. The whole thing was serendipitous in the extreme and I am enthusiastic about the upcoming challenges and what is destined to be the tireless pursuit of success. I'm not sure where it will take me but I know if I do my best to make it a success I will be making forward progress.

We reached a tipping point today. Our first program is coming together and our website is up and running. Now that I have something to show for my time. I'm finally willing to say...

BEHOLD: KAKUSHIN GROUP

Normal City?

2009-11-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

The original idea from this post comes from a comment by a friend of mine, @tburts. It was one of those sound bites that blindsides you in any idle conversation you might be having. It catches you off guard. It sticks, like gum on your left converse. I remember the conversation, there's a photo of it burned into my brain. This blog then is that metaphorical stick with which I'll release myself of this stage 5 clinger.

So it was like this, posted up, the corner in site, when Tyler blurted it out. Why does Kingston make so much noise about wanting to be a normal city. There was no such thing as a normal city, our good friend declared.

I immediately liked what I heard. It was refreshing in a few ways. Just having finished orchestrating the entirety of Orientation week, including some verbose and harsh disputes with Kingston city council members I had been feeling fairly disenchanted with the town in which we resided, which I had come to call home. More importantly though, the brief audio-blurb resonated with me at a frequency that seemed fundamentally more sound.

When I think about it, it makes sense. Ottawa is different from Toronto, for reasons that are glaringly obvious to me (make up you're own local example. I'm sure if you are even only a little bit objective you'll see it to be true, I don't feel like explaining). And both Ontario cities are far diverged from Montreal, let alone Vancouver. The evolutions of our cities and their populations are complex, and not easily remedied with a few teaspoons of your favourite elixir. Moving to Bratislava has further atrophied the proposed notion that Kingston's desire to be neatly arranged in the "normal city" category is completely asinine. If Kingston considers itself atypical then I honestly don't know what to call this post communist hilarity I now occupy. Life's all about the angles.

Allow me to be bold and extrapolate for my boy TBURTS. In thinking about his statement I have more or less reached that a city is like any other organism. It's made up of it's composite parts, for better or for worse. Sure, the city has activities analogous to eating well and exercising, but it's still a product of it's past and a reflection of it's composite parts. It might be matured, young or somewhere in between. Whether or not that's what Tyler had in mind remains untold, he probably thought of something more clever.

Also, can you believe this guy??

Also, there's a stranger sleeping on my couch...More to come on that

Ode to the Frizz

2009-11-22T01:57:00.000-08:00

Well friends, the low frequency blogging continues. All the blogs I'm following have slowed down their rate of posting as well. Everyones busy with other stuff. I'm just lazy, I guess. Draped on my couch like the thick fog that has embraced my apartment building for the last few days.

I have thought a lot about Miss Frizzle in the last 36 hours. I don't know why. It must have something to do with that motto of hers: Make mistakes, take chances, get messy!

As I approach my departure date, I get excited about going home. But I also reflect more and more on my time here.

While I haven't been surfing on a sine wave, or riding a river of lava, I can't help but feel like I've been on something of a wild ride.

A few things have effected me pretty blatantly, not to say that I'm a new person or anything crazy. I'll give you an example. That should help. I ask a lot more questions now. This trip has been good for my curiosity. I am always trying to figure out my world. Without this renewed sense of wonder I would have taken much longer to get acclimatized to my new spot.

Getting sales experience has also helped. I'm harder to lie to now. I'll pinpoint your objection, with a volley of questions so thick that if they were arrows they would blot out the midday sun, prominently held high in the hand of the sky. I would have also lit the arrows on fire and soaked the grounds under your soles with petrol. Needless to say, mess with me and you'll find yourself in a pickle. A HOT pickle, no less. I can still be coy and charming as hell though. I would say that I'm maybe even more charming. Travel has given me some great talking points. Everyone should travel.

The thing about learning first hand, is that you're learning by doing. Which means you probably suck at the start. That's uncomfortable. But it's this lack of comfort, the one where your stomach is turning and your head spinning as you falter in embarrassing ways, that is so important. I've learned a lot from it. My head spins in a lot less situations now.

For that, I thank Miss Frizzle's school of hands-on.

A Stark Realization

2009-11-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

First of all, let me apologize for the lack of blogging. This unemployment gig has left me with so much time to fill, and no sense of urgency to fuel me to do anything meaningful.

Today I realized that I would be home in a little more than 3 weeks. Pretty crazy. How things have changed.

I spent a good part of today remembering my arrival, not even 6 short months ago. For example, right now I just got back from the grocery store, I remember when I didn't know where that was. I've since learned the whereabouts of many supermarkets, not to mention the exact locations of all of my most preferred foodstuffs. I can have small conversations with the cashiers.

I took the tram today. Actually, I took a few trams today. Come to think of it, I actually played the tramschedule like a jazz flute on the way to and from work. I caught a number of short routes, rather than waiting like a chump for the easiest tram to show up.

At the start, everything was serious. I was on edge. My senses were in overdrive, trying to intercept every stimuli no matter how small, while the switchboard that is my brain, scrambled like it was being operated by a gorilla on roller-skates. Moreover,I couldn't interact with anyone or rely on myself to get anywhere. Except for that one time on the first night when I was pissed drunk and got lost, then conveyed to a taxi driver I lived by the (now torn down) hockey arena by making slapshot motions and shouting player names.

I remember was listening to this. Seems a lot funnier now.

I take a lot of stuff for granted. I should work on that. Entitlement is a dangerous thing.

...

I am not taking going home for granted. Far too excited.

Ode to Roger

2009-11-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

I mentioned Roger Martin in a post a few days ago. A friend later directed me to an article he had written regarding the state of Canadian Education. From there I perused a few more articles and interviews he had written for The Walrus. Finally I came across one about the future of the Canadian Economy. It was a great read with some great lines that reminded me why I like so much what Mr. Martin has to say. Here is the article in it's entirety and below are a few of my favourite excerpts.

"So when I talk about how we should tax corporations, I am not making an argument about the size and involvement of government. I am making an argument about the intelligence with which governments in Canada tax corporations. Currently our taxation IQ is double digit — in a word, pathetic. "

"Our only choice is whether we want to be ahead of the curve or behind it. I can’t and won’t stop arguing this point because whiny people say that it would be hard to change. The truly hard thing is living with the consequences of profoundly bad decisions. "

"Second, keep pressing forward. There is greater danger from standing still and hoping the status quo will prevail than from innovating and being wrong. "

Language Fail in Progress

2009-11-07T04:45:00.000-08:00

Can I tell you how bad is it, my English?

I don’t mean to harp on these ESL folk. They are doing a great job learning the language of innovation. In 90% of cases their English is LEAPS AND BOUNDS ahead of my Slovak (or Turkish, as it may be). So kudos. And besides, when girls struggle to properly engineer phrases, it makes me smile. The backwards grammar they employ is more often than not, hilariously attractive, for a reason that still eludes me.

HOWEVER, it’s not all good. Between my (former) colleagues and my flatmate, I hear a lot of people speaking English as their second language. It’s not a bad thing either though, just another observation. I appreciate their efforts. Without them, I would have zero friends. FURTHERMORE, I am able to appreciate that mastery of spoken and written English is a tricky task. Unfortunately for me though, I’m something of a language copycat. I don’t know how else to describe it. Maybe it’s my extreme empathy, or desire to mitigate conflict, but I often find myself absorbing and repeating the catch phrases of the people around me. My dad says he does something similar, so maybe I can blame genetics. It is a phenomenon that has been with me as long as I can remember, and one that I constantly, try to consciously subvert. The symptoms now are worse than ever, having progressed from acute to chronic in the last few months. Despite my persistent efforts to catch myself, my language has become subject to follies. No longer am I mimicking buzzwords or slogans, but the language structure spewed by the ESL majority.

“I’ll catch you up tomorrow” I shout to a parting friend. “What the hell does that even mean?” I immediately ponder. Self-loathing follows. The most common case is the mixing up of noun-subject agreements in sentences. To list the flurry of examples that come to mind would be downright shameful.

In drafts of these blog posts, not to mention my every day interactions, I find myself composing sentences with structure so off it’s as though they’re afflicted with some unique literary strain of scoliosis. I have to read every word, sure that I won’t embarrass myself with grammatical slip up, after grammatical slip up. Actually, had it not been for this blogging experiment I think it’s safe to say that the erosion of my language skills would be far, far worse. All thanks and praise to the mighty Google for allowing me this pulpit from which to practice my prose.

And of course thanks to you, conscientious reader, for your patience and understanding as I try to keep my purposeful command of the English word from atrophying or disappearing altogether.

Why I Hate the SIC

2009-11-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Ok ok, I don't actually hate the Social Issues Commission of your favourite organization. I just wanted your attention. I realize the importance and value these groups bring to the table, and I do not mean to undermine it whatsoever. But I think such said commissions are guilty of simplifying the issues at hand in their honourable crusades to eradicate "isms" everywhere, which unfortunately, ultimately negate from the goals they are trying to accomplish. I read a life changing book that I reference a lot "The Opposable Mind." In it, Roger Martin talks about how issues and situations are usually much more complex than we are willing to admit. We simplify things because it's easier to get our points across if we don't take all of the overwhelming details and complex interactions of these details into account. Sometimes we don't have the resources to thoroughly analyze the relationships between all of the factors at play, or sometimes we just want to be right, so we generalize, glossing over things that might be important. Unfortunately, this is destined to lead to sub-standard decision making.

Due to the complex nature of social issues I think this happens a lot in this particular arena.

In my experience, (my name comes up in paragraph 6...I also realize that now even the term "Sensitivity Training" is insensitive...) in working with Social Issues Commissions, they try, but generally fail to do much in the ways of educating people. At the end of anti-oppression training sessions, majority groups are left quivering in fear that they might accidentally step on toes; or worse, they feel as though they are being lectured and tune out. I've been out of the establishment for almost 8 months now and I sincerely hope things are changing for the better through the encouragement of dialogue and discussion by all parties. Though I maintain a healthy skepticism.

In my short time away from Kingston, I've come across some extremely overt and systemic acts of racism. The most prolific example is the engrained hate in Eastern Europe directed at the Roma people (colloquially referred to as Gypsies).

I was shocked when I heard my new Slovak friends talk about these people as second class citizens. They referenced their low standards of education, and their exploitation of children and child welfare laws. Coming from a left-leaning, uber-inclusive environment I was astounded at the blatant disregard for the rights of another group of people. The racism was overt and systemic and unlike anything I had been privy to. But rather than judge and condemn my new-compatriots, I tried to understand where they were coming from. After all, earlier in the week I had had a Roma man spit in my face when I refused to give him a cigarette (I don't smoke, so I didn't have cigarettes) and I had seen many children begging for money as their parents stood around the corner egging them on.

So I did a little research. In true Dr. House fashion, I figured that their must be a reason behind such behaviour. It wasn't until I saw a BBC Documentary, "The Lost World of Communism" that I began to understand. To continue with this Roma example, which hits particularly close to my new home, we must go back to Romania in the 1960s. Particularly, we must examine the reforms instituted by the man who I believe, is quite obviously one of the primary culprits, Nicolae Ceausescu. As the leader of Communist Romania in the late 60's, old boy Nicolae was in quite the position of power (I've learned in my time in my own new home/post-communist country that things were not NEARLY as egalitarian as the propaganda would have you believe. Orwell's Animal Farm paints a surprisingly accurate picture of the corruption and greed by those in power, but that's a story for another day). Ceausescu had great dreams for his society but lacked execution, you might say. To build his palaces and optimally exploit the natural resources of the land thereby maximizing his countries economic output he came to the logical conclusion that he would need a massive labour force. He demolished rural dwellings and communities, removing people from their homes all over the country side and built giant panelak housing units (lit: concrete panel houses) on the outskirts of Bucharest, not unlike the one I live in today (ok, way more decrepit and derelict than my current abode in Bratislava, but the same idea) in which to house the new and centralized work force in. He made physical labour the new national priority, forget education. Let me say that one more time so you can grasp the magnitude of it: He destroyed homes and forced the majority of the population to do physical work for low wages (sounds like little more than slavery, if you ask me). He then figured that to optimize national output he would need the largest workforce possible. So he outlawed abortion. This was even more significant than you might think because he had already made all methods of contraception illegal. So now if you are a Romanian in the late 60s you have in all likelihood been forced to do physical labour at low wages and are forbidden by the federal government from having safe sex. But that wasn't enough for Nicolae, he went on to hail mothers of 10 or more children as state heroes and instituted income taxes of up to 50% on married couples above the age of 25 who had no children. A myriad of terrible side effects ensued but the most obvious are that the education of the Roma people declined and a culture of child-bearing was established.

So the crazy racist ramblings of my new neighbours suddenly seem a lot more understandable. I don't think it's justified, but I can clearly understand why these attitudes exist.

Now maybe this is an isolated experience and all other attitudes and isms are not based in such obvious fact. However we are all able to speak only from our own practical experiences, and my most recent ones have been extremely eye opening for someone who considered himself at least somewhat educated vis a vis social issues, and which I had to travel half way around the world to attain. So I would love to see those campaigning for social issues (which include some really great people, I don't mean to cast broad brush strokes) seek to educate as to why these attitudes exist. It did a lot for me to understand that some of the stereotypes I had heard about Roma were quasi-truths, or at least had some foundation in fact. From there, it was much easier for me to understand where the racist attitudes of my colleagues and friends were coming from. So rather than explain to frosh leaders and students-at-large that racism, sexism and all other kinds of oppression are wrong, I am beginning to believe we must strive to explain why these attitudes exist before we go on to debunk them, challenge them and/or examine ways to change them. Rather than the current practice of throwing terminology and best practice at everybody enrolled in a post-secondary institution and patting ourselves on the back for a job well done (I'm guilty of this part too)!

Anyways, my point here, and the big angle I'm trying to play is not to hate on people championing human rights, (I reiterate that I think the work is critical despite what the title of this post might suggest) but that we can always do things better and we must not be afraid to objectively analyze and critique our methods lest we remain blindfolded to better solutions that we may not have yet imagined, even when the subject matter is sensitive.

As always, comments, questions and discussion are welcome and encouraged.
Thanks for stopping by.

Public Displays of Affection

2009-11-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

Being unemployed, I often feel cooped up inside my house all day. Probably because that's what I do. As a result I spend a lot of my free time (which conveniently makes up all my time) at malls, cafes and bars, in search of humans to interact with and observe. Not a bad life, right? It’s a necessary attempt at breaking the monotonous cycle though. I also just realized there are a lot of “o”s in monotonous. I ALSO, just realized I’m the best-dressed person at this particular coffee shop, by a long shot.

In the last week that I’ve been frequenting these places, burning money I don’t have, I’ve noticed that no matter where I end up, there seems to be pair of young teens in the middle of a heavy-petting session. Simply put, it’s quite lewd.
Now I’ve been to a lot of coffee shops in Canada, malls and bars too. Especially bars. And yet I have never seen such frequent and obnoxious displays of affection in public places. It got me thinking. Maybe there isn’t the associated stigma here, as there is in North America. I think that has to be true.

I’ve begun to dig a little deeper though (being unemployed allows me ample time to dream about why pre-pubescent teenagers escape to public places to get all up on each other). And I think that’s the secret, escape.

You see just like me, most of the people in this post communist wonderland I now call home live in giant concrete panel housing blocks. Our flat is quite nice, but it’s not THAT big. It’s a living room, a kitchen and a few bedrooms. Sure, a family could live there, and many do. But short of closing your door and keeping your voices low, there would be little method to escape from mom and dad, were you forced to share one of these places with your elder family members. As a result, if you want to have any chance of getting past hugs and handholding you’ve got to “amscray” (whoa, haven’t used pig-Latin in awhile, -But it feels right given the juvenile subject matter of this post) from watchful parental eyes. Considering the respective prices of movies, beer and coffee, of course this is where the youngin’s end up. Furthermore, I’m willing to bet that winter is especially bad as parks and secluded benches become less accessible and more clothes hamper flesh-on-flesh contact.

I think the take home lesson for me, not that any of this has been particularly insightful, is that everyones actions and attitudes reflect their circumstances, and not always in ways that are incredibly obvious. Now, time to get back to some reading, while fighting the urge to stare at the guy feeling up his girlfriend, right beside me.

Fever Pitch Frustration

2009-11-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

I was at my friend Adele's house in grade 3, when it first happened. Somebody proposed a game of charades. Ever since that moment at the base of his cream coloured carpeted stair case I have despised the game, and all variations on the stupid theme, drama classes included. I'm someone who appreciates language, obviously. Why would anyone waste their time, let alone find amusement in, trying to act out a dumb phrase. It doesn't make sense to me. We developed speech for a reason.

Now, in some ironic twist of fate my whole life has become a game of charades. In 95% of instances, I can't talk with anyone around me I am constantly forced to try and convey my needs and desires by elaborate hand motions and facial expressions. It got old, fast. But Slovak has been a whore of a language to grasp, despite my quasi-tenacious efforts. So here I am, victim of circumstance in this cruel, cruel world of ours: Hating myself every time I'm obliged to give a thumbs up.

Case in point: I tried to buy a new phone today, because the piece of shit I've been using -Previously employed by my flatmate Sarp circa 2004- finally bit the dust. After an hour of such said acting game I thought, at last, I was set to walk away with a fresh handset. Then, all of a sudden, my new friend Lucia said she had to make a phone call. Then she made another. Immediately thereafter, she informed me that unfortunately, because my residence visa is only one year (that's all you can get, by the way) and all the phone contracts are 2 years, there was absolutely no way she would be able to help me. Despite my pleading and attempts at reasoning with her I walked home, in the sleet, spiting T-Mobile.

I would start drinking but I have about 45 other things to do. Who knew being unemployed could be so much work? Oh yeah, I might have forgot to mention I quit my job. More to come regarding that when my blood temperature drops from a boil to a mere simmer.

The Lonely Planet On Communism

2009-11-01T02:56:00.001-08:00

I just got back from the grocery store, where I was met with incredibly long lines. I was head to head with the post-church rush.

During my family travels, I obviously spent some time leafing through the Lonely Planet. Allow me to quote a few passages about my new surroundings.

"The communist era basically dotted the landscape and cities with eyesores. The building material of choice was concrete. Vast, truly ugly panelak (concrete apartment buildings made with prefabricated panels) popped up on the outskirts of cities in both nations [Czech Republic and Slovakia], especially during the 1960s and 70s. Slovakia was particularly hard hit. The communist era left some monumentally odd structures..."
Pg. 41

"Forty-five years of communist rule was bound to leave a mark. An obsession with modern functionalism resulted in many odd, sometimes depressing structures... The entire Petrzalka concrete jungle housing estate is a good example of the communist egalitarian ethics of old. These ugly buildings all look identical."
Pg. 347

Basically this was just a cop-out from doing any creative writing of my own! More of that to come soon. I promise.

Enjoy your extra hour of sleep, loyal North American reader.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T10:33:00.001-07:00

The best party holiday by far. Now young ladies everywhere, go dress up like skanks and don't be judged for it.

On My Own

2009-10-31T00:40:00.000-07:00

The family left early this morning. Very early. It was a fun visit though and I am more excited to go home in about 5 weeks. For now though I'm all on my own.

Time to get down to business.

Family Time

2009-10-25T00:20:00.001-07:00

My parents and sister came to visit me a few days ago. We've spent the lat few days getting them acquainted with B'lava. They are here for another week so my internet presence will diminish considerably as I spend my time doing tourist like things, for once. I'm sure there will be plenty of fun updates to tell you about once they leave and I have a little time.

For now, suffice it say it's awesome having the fam around.

Autumn Blogging

2009-10-20T04:09:00.000-07:00

Before we get started: There's a car driving around my neighbourhood with a megaphone on top of it. This guy is speaking adamantly about something. I wish I knew what it was about. Instead I just close my window, hope it's not important and forget about it.

Down to business: I know I've been neglectful. I'm sorry. The truth is, while I have been incredibly busy as of late, my time is expensed on rather dull activities. I'd rather not muse on the mundane. I think that's the best course of action for everyone involved in this blogging experience.

I'm still not really doing anything particularly BLOGWORTHY. And yet, here I am, tapping key upon key after we just agreed I'd stop writing about doing nothing. But wait, you're forgetting how selfless I am. This blog post isn't even about me. One of the best dudes I know, my main man @Senortardez has just himself embarked on a worthy journey. He's off to Japan to teach English and generally strengthen his international pimp hand. I'm sure he'll be a part of this blogging game soon enough, able to recount his story for you with his own poignant prose.

After seeing a tweet this morning announcing his arrival in Tokyo, it wasn't long until I was thinking about my own arrival here. The mix of uncertainty, anxiety and excitement was intoxicating. Traveling alone is an unreal experience. I'm excited to hear about his adventure and the opportunities it has provided me to reflect on my own.

As I predicted earlier, October was bound by the laws of nature to be a bountifully productive month. Indeed it has been, the Jworthy Almanac of Productivity logs another victory. I have put my head down and I'm starting to hit my stride. I like the idea of being in school, or a similar routine. Being productive feels awesome. The weather here is more familiar to me than it's ever been: As overcast rolls in permanently and the temperature plummets. The time to conquer the world is now.

I also have some visitors coming in a few days, which I'm pretty excited about.

Shark Tank

2009-10-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

I'm watching this hilarious ABC version of a BBC show called Dragon's Den. It's great.

Without getting into the nature of the show, the American version has much more outlandish characters and way more production value. I don't know if it's as good or not.

I like to think about how that reflects on our societies.

Genius

2009-10-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Just stopping by really quick. Nothing to see here.

On the ESPN website I just saw something that confirmed Steve Jobs will indeed rule the world. Their was an aesthetically pleasing, gigantic, half-screen banner that was advertising the iPod Touch as a gaming device. The ad showed 4 or 5 awesome looking sports games.

I don't know why I thought this was clever. Maybe because I feverishly believe in the awesomeness of the iPod Touch. Thoughts?